I am a reporter for Newsquest and I was previously an MA Journalism student at Sheffield University, also earning my NCTJ here. I have also worked as a maritime journalist, and studied politics at Durham University.

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'Electric atmosphere': What we thought of Knutsford’s new wine tasting fair

Bringing independent winemakers and seasonal food together under one roof at Knutsford Market Hall, the event promised to celebrate ‘unique producers and modern wine culture’. Curated by Linden Stores co-owners Laura Christie and Chris Boustead, the fair featured more than 20 wines from producers across the UK and Europe. Laura Christie and Chris Boustead of Linden Stores (Image: Lucas Smith) Tickets for the event cost £30 and included a goodie bag and the opportunity to purchase var...

We tried Carden Park’s twilight spa experience – here’s how it went

What better way to treat someone than with a trip to the spa? We decided to visit The Spa at Carden Park to try out their Festive Twilight Dining Experience, and here’s what we thought. Located in rural Cheshire, Carden Park Hotel is well-known for the luxury experiences they offer, with the spa being named the AA Spa Hotel of the Year in 2024. The spa is well-known (Image: NQ) We opted to try the festive twilight dining experience, which gave us full use of the Spa Garden and Therma...

We went to RHS Bridgewater Glow - here’s what we thought

We decided to head to RHS Bridgewater to discover this year’s offering, RHS Glow 2025. Running from November 26 until December 30, a standard adult ticket for this attraction costs £16.50, and a child ticket costs £9.25, with under 5s going free. The event runs until December 30 (Image: NQ) If you’re an RHS member, tickets are half price. We arrived at around 6pm for our evening adventure, and the atmosphere felt warm and inviting. With most of the trail taking place outside,...

What we thought of the Lanterns & Light trail at Chester Zoo

Running from mid-November until early January, timeslots are available from between 4.30pm and 8pm. Varying in price, off-peak tickets start from £19 for adults and £12 for children, going up to £26 for adults and £19 for children during peak hours. The trail runs until early January (Image: NQ) We visited at 7pm on a Friday, and felt this was the perfect time as it was dark enough that we could fully enjoy the lights. The trail itself was absolutely fantastic, with each section...

Has Pizza Hut fallen out of favour? We went to find out

I decided to head down to the Pizza Hut, located at the Junction Nine Retail Park in Warrington, and figure out what was going on for myself. My dining companions and I arrived around midday for our meal, and we were surprised to see the restaurant relatively busy for a weekday lunchtime. We opted for the £9.99 unlimited lunchtime buffet, and added on an unlimited drink for £3.99 each, taking our total for the three of us to £41.94. The lunchtime buffet gave us plenty of options (Ima...

I tried the tapas restaurant which brings a taste of Spain to Lymm

One such establishment is Chia Tapas & Bar, located in the centre of Lymm near the Cross. Fancying some Spanish cuisine, I decided to try it out. Chia can be found in the heart of Lymm (Image: NQ) My guests and I visited on a Saturday afternoon and were made to feel at home straight away by the friendly staff. There was six of us dining, so we decided to order a variety of food for us to all share. We selected the cold vegetarian platter, the mixed taco platter, the mixed mea...

I went to Spain and back for under £100 – all in one day

But could it really be done? I decided to find out. I woke up at around 5.30am and got ready for my journey to the airport. Luckily, I only live a 15-minute drive from Manchester airport, meaning I didn’t have to worry about public transport or parking. My long-suffering boyfriend agreed to give me a lift and paid for the drop-off fee, meaning my travel to the airport was free. Other options for extreme day trippers include parking nearby and getting a taxi, or taking the train....

Sabrina Carpenter delivers signature wit on Short n' Sweet (Deluxe) - Empoword Journalism

Tabitha Wilson Sabrina Carpenter has gone from strength to strength, with her smash hit ‘Espresso’ catapulting the singer to mega-stardom last year, and now her highly anticipated album Short n’ Sweet has cemented her title as pop’s current princess. Spawning hits such as ‘Taste’, ‘Bed Chem’, and ‘Please Please Please’, it was always going to be hard for the American starlet to top her career-defining and Grammy-winning record. But with Short n’ Sweet (Deluxe), Carpenter has managed to do just t...

2024: my top ten songs, ranked

2024 has been a great year for music, with female artists in particular dominating the charts. From Brat to The Tortured Poets Department to Short n’ Sweet, it’s been a fantastic year for a pop superfan like me.Here are the ten tracks that stuck out to me over the past 12 months — I’ve selected songs that were released as singles or that received significant airtime/made a noted impact on pop culture, as otherwise, this list would definitely be slightly more homogenous.The first single released...

Dog found abandoned with bleeding skin to spend first Christmas in new home

A dog who was abandoned with bleeding skin and extensive fur loss is preparing to spend his first Christmas in a loving new home. Enzo, a bull breed-type dog, was found on February 1 by a member of the public. He had been tied up with a piece of rope and left near the Peak Forest Canal at Woodley Precinct, Stockport. Large areas of his body were completely bald, and he was covered in scabs and sores, some of which were actively bleeding due to constant scratching. He had been tie...

reputation ranked — 7 years on

Taylor Swift’s critically acclaimed sixth studio album has turned 7 years old.A response to intense scrutiny of her private life and public image, reputation was a career-defining moment for the global pop sensation.7 years on, it remains (in my personal opinion) one of her strongest and most cohesive records to date.The continued impact of reputation is apparent, with fans eagerly awaiting the re-recording of the album, with it being only one of two left for her to reclaim following her masters...

Disney On Ice to return to Liverpool with new show

The production, 100 Years of Wonder, will be at the M&S Bank Arena from March 6 to March 9, 2025. The show offers an opportunity for families to celebrate with Mickey Mouse and friends, showcasing beloved Disney characters, stunning costumes, and special effects. Tickets for the show will go on general sale from Friday, September 27 at 9am, and can be found on Disney on Ice's website. A host of characters will be performing in Liverpool next year (Image: Disney On Ice) The show promi...

How to see the Speak Their Name quilt in Leigh this week

The special memorial quilt was created in 2020 and each of the 54 unique squares in the quilt have been lovingly created in memory of someone lost to suicide. It is the first time the quilt has been on display in the Wigan borough and it will arrive to coincide with the start of Month of Hope. The Say Their Name Quilt will be on display on Leigh Town Hall from Monday, September 9 to Friday, September 13 and at Wigan Central Library – Monday, September 16 to Friday, September 20. Brid...

How support schemed has helped residents access £4.6m of unclaimed financial aid

The council’s flagship cost-of-living crisis support campaign, which was launched in 2022, includes a regular community event schedule helping raise awareness of what benefits residents may be entitled to. 370 people have now claimed £2m of Attendance Allowance and more than 160 pensioners are now receiving a share of nearly £800k through regular Pension Credit payments. Cabinet member for welfare, Councillor Susan Gambles, said: “We couldn’t be prouder of our teams’ efforts to raise awa...

'C, XOXO' by Camila Cabello - Review - Empoword Journalism

Tabitha Wilson Camila Cabello has released her latest album, C, XOXO, to mixed reviews. Is the criticism justified, or is C, XOXO the singer’s most introspective record to date? Cabello began her career as a member of girl group Fifth Harmony, after appearing on The X Factor US in 2012 when she was just 15. The group went on to achieve global success, with their track Work from Home charting in the Top 10 internationally. However, Cabello left the group at the end of 2016. The reasons for her de...

I was a constituent of Brendan Clarke-Smith in Bassetlaw and it’s time for change

My first email, from May 2020, expressed my horror and disappointment in him defending Dominic Cummings, who broke COVID lockdown rules and made the journey from London to County Durham. I told Mr Clarke-Smith why I was so angry – my dad was incredibly ill, recovering from major heart surgery, and we were isolating ourselves as we had been told to.Mr Clarke-Smith later posted on Facebook that he had replied to all emails he had received about the Dominic Cummings scandal – but I had yet to recei...

Life in Downing Street: What life will be like for Keir Starmer’s children

With Labour’s victory all but confirmed, it’s looking likely that Keir Starmer and his family will be moving into Number 10 Downing Street in the next few days. But who are his children, and what has he said about how he’s going to balance his family life as Prime Minister?Starmer and his wife Victoria have two children – a 16-year-old son and a 13-year-old daughter. The Labour leader has been ‘fiercely protective’ of his children’s identities and has shielded them from the public eye, with thei...

'The Secret of Us’ Review: Gracie Abrams' Emotionally Charged New Album - Empoword Journalism

Tabitha Wilson In her sophomore album, The Secret of Us, indie pop starlet Gracie Abrams showcases breathtaking vulnerability. The 24-year-old musician started her career by releasing her debut EP, Minor, in 2020. This was supported by various singles, such as the viral hit I Miss You, I’m Sorry. Her first album, Good Riddance (2023), attracted positive reviews and made Abrams one to watch. The singer worked alongside a founding member of the rock band The National and Aaron Dessner, who frequen...

Moving out of Downing Street – what happens when a PM has to leave?

With Labour expected to achieve a landslide victory at Thursday’s general election - how long will Rishi Sunak have to move out? With the general election just around the corner, it’s looking more and more likely that current Conservative PM Rishi Sunak will be saying goodbye to Number 10, following polls forecasting a Labour supermajority. According to the government’s website, Downing Street has been the official residence of British prime ministers since 1735 and has three functions – the h

In defence of Taylor Swift – why Newsweek’s article was lazy, misogynistic and boring

A column criticising Taylor Swift for remaining “unmarried and childless” at 34 was lazy, misogynistic and boring, says Tabitha Wilson. American singer-songwriter Taylor Swift is no stranger to criticism. Countless opinion pieces on the star have been published over the past decade, with her receiving backlash for her private jet usage, her re-recording of her old work after her master’s dispute with Scooter Braun, and her perceived ‘greed’ with the release of various versions of her latest alb
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