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A new nightclub will be allowed to open at a South London venue which was shut down last year after an alleged rape inside the premises. Eddie Hanson, Deputy Mayor of Camden , had his application to open Vision Lounge on the Old Kent Road approved by Southwark councillors at a meeting on Thursday (January 30), despite opposition from local residents, the Met Police and the council's own licensing team. Club 701, the previous venue to operate out of the building which is unrelated to Mr Hanson, was stripped of its licence by the council in February 2024 after an alleged rape there. The club was open without the correct authorisation at the time. Residents told the licensing meeting that they had endured 10 years of disturbances from previous clubs operating out of the same premises, including crime, indecent exposure and unlicensed food vendors setting up barbecues in the street nearby to serve drunken customers. Eddie Hanson, Deputy Mayor of Camden, said he had ...

The full horror of Sarah Mayhew's murder has been laid bare at the Old Bailey this morning with her ' bloodthirsty' killers set to be jailed on Thursday afternoon (January 30) . Steven Sansom, 45, from Sutton , and Gemma Watts, 49, from Croydon , both admitted murdering, butchering, and disposing of her body around South London last year. Opening the sentencing in Court 2, with Sarah's family sat tearfully in the public gallery, prosecutor Tom Little KC said: "Both of these defendants acting together conducted a bloodthirsty murder that was planned and premeditated in advance. This murder involved sadistic conduct and sexual conduct. "Having committed that murder there was significant evidence of efforts thwart justice in the following days. The defendants had exchanged a number of depraved messages including a desire to kill victims with a knife and knives and then have sex with each other while covered in blood. They even discussed eating human flesh, bu...

If you haven't jumped on the air fryer bandwagon yet, or are looking to update your current gadget, Amazon is now offering a fabulous discount on an extra-large option. The online retailer has knocked 41% off the 9L Cookwise Dual Air Fryer that has an impressive nine cooking presets. Originally costing £159.99, the kitchen appliance can now be yours for £94.97 (price correct at the time of writing), giving you a lovely saving of £65. Each of the air fryer’s baskets has a capacity of 4.5 litres and can be used independently or together to cook different foods to create a complete meal. The handy sync finish function makes it possible for the two baskets to finish cooking at the same time. The air fryer is perfect for cooking different food types, as there are nine cooking presets, including fish, fries, bake, vegetables, and chicken. READ MORE: Get 'the best sounding' wireless earbuds for cheapest price at retailer that rivals Amazon READ MORE: 'Very cheap to run...

An on-the-run Scout leader accused of child sex offences told police he had been living in “paradise” for 27 years, after being arrested returning from Thailand, a court heard. Richard Burrows, 80, had fled the UK after being due in court in December 1997, a jury at Chester Crown Court was told. He told his brother “not all paedophiles are the same”, as he planned his return to the UK in March last year. Burrows, originally from Sutton Coldfield, Birmingham, denies four counts of buggery, two counts of indecency with a child, two counts of attempted buggery and 47 indecent assaults against 10 complainants aged between nine and 15, from the mid-1960s to the mid-1990s. As complainants of sexual offences, none of the victims can be identified. Mark Connor, opening the case for the prosecution, told the jury of eight women and four men that, over many years, Burrows systematically abused boys with whom he came into contact. Mr Connor said: “He obtained positions of trust and responsib...

A heavyweight music line-up of The Who, The Corrs, James Arthur, Micky Flanagan, The Sex Pistols with Frank Carter and superstar TikToker GK Barry have been announced as the headliners of a week of concerts at the Royal Albert Hall in aid of the Teenage Cancer Trust. Teenage Cancer Trust at the Royal Albert Hall runs from March 24 to 30. Tickets will go on sale at 9am on Friday, January 31 , and are expected to sell out very quickly. Proceedings will kick off on Monday, March 24, with the “rip-roaring punk rock redux” of singer Frank Carter stepping into Jonny Rotten's shoes alongside Sex Pistols' regulars Paul Cook, Steve Jones and Glen Matlock as they tear through their seminal album ‘Never Mind the Bollocks, Here’s The Sex Pistols’. Support will come from beat-punk outfit Kid Kapichi and fast-rising trio The Molotovs. Micky Flanagan leads a night of comedy on Tuesday, March 25. A self-described “working-class boy done good”, Micky has risen to be one of the biggest names...

Strictly star Wynne Evans has been reprimanded by the BBC after making an inappropriate comment about Janette Manrara during the Strictly Live Tour. The 52-year-old Go Compare advert star, who is currently performing with professional dancer Katya Jones, made a crude joke about Janette during a photocall in Birmingham. During a group photo, Evans was caught on camera making an unsuitable sexual comment to Janette as she joined the group. He sang out: "Go Compare," before adding: "Not too close to Jamie [Borthwick]." He then used the derogatory term 'spit roast' in reference to a vulgar sexual act in a video published by Daily Mail. Janette's reaction was unclear as her face was momentarily obscured by other Strictly stars. There was awkward laughter, with Jamie wincing as Evans appeared to chuckle at his own comment, reports the Mirror . The 52-year-old Go Compare advert star, who is currently performing with professional dancer Katya J...

There's a London Underground station that's so far out it's practically in the countryside, and its design is utterly peculiar. Loughton station, located in Essex, is one of 16 stations that actually sit outside of London, along with Epping, Theydon Bois, Debden, Buckhurst Hill, Chigwell, Roding Valley and Grange Hill (just barely). Its boxy yet sleek modern aesthetic certainly sets it apart, but it can be quite a sight to behold. As you approach, it looks more like a giant cardboard box than a bustling Tube stop and commuter hub. Despite its Art Deco overload, the station's current look was considered very futuristic and avant-garde when it opened back in 1940. Tubewalker.com even describes it as an 'architectural tour de force'. On the platform, Loughton looks like any other local Tube stop, but its exterior architecture has it admirers (Image: Sunil060902) Loughton also belongs to a select group of Tube stations - those located outside...

Planes were spotted battling to land at Heathrow Airport this morning as Storm Éowyn's high winds cause chaos across the UK. Brits are preparing for potential damage after wind speed records were shattered in Ireland at 5am this morning, with 114mph gales sweeping through Galway. Met Éireann confirmed that the previous record, set in Limerick in 1945, has now been surpassed. In the UK, schools have closed and people are being urged to avoid travel due to the potentially deadly 100mph winds. The situation is so critical that rail services and flights have been cancelled, with experts warning of possible building damage, uprooted trees, and power cuts. A video shared by Big Jet TV shows a plane struggling to touch down at London's Heathrow Airport in the unusually high winds. Hundreds of flights have been cancelled or delayed across the UK (Image: Big Jet Tv) Inside the terminal, passengers face lengthy delays, with photos showing travellers trying to cat...

A swanky London eatery is causing a stir with its £56 Full English breakfast, but there's a catch – it's missing two key components. The Ritz, an iconic five-star hotel in the heart of the capital, is serving up what could be the nation's priciest morning meal, and it seems they've left something out. Known for its opulence, The Ritz is asking for this hefty price for a classic British breakfast , with the option to add some rather extravagant extras. The menu details that the breakfast includes two eggs – "cooked to your preference" – along with back bacon, Cumberland sausage, grilled mushrooms, and vine tomatoes, plus a cup of traditional English tea. The Ritz's full English is lacking hash browns (Image: Jam Press/John Carey) For those looking to splurge, you can "enhance" your meal with luxuries such as beluga caviar, setting you back £402 for 30g or £750 for 50g. It's also mentioned that the price covers the hotel...

A Norwood student “with several mental health conditions” was found dead in his room by his housemate. Leandro Titley, 21, took his own life on Friday, August 30, last year after his boyfriend and housemate grew concerned. The UCL student - who was living in Brent - was autistic and mentally unwell. He identified as trans and had set up a fundraiser to raise money for his top surgery (a gender-affirming surgical procedure that reshapes the chest to create a more masculine or feminine appearance). Leandro’s boyfriend had contacted the housemate at around 6am that morning, as he wasn’t replying to messages and had turned his location settings off. She had to climb in through the window as Leandro’s room was locked from the inside. He was pronounced dead at around 12.50pm after police found his “flatmate crouched next to him crying to the London Ambulance Service (LAS) operator.” He was pronounced dead at the scene. He was last seen alive the afternoon before (Thursday, August 29) wh...

Londoners can now use a map to check the locations of public toilets across the city. The feature comes alongside a call from charity Age UK to improve the provision of such facilities in the capital. The map boasts itself as the UK’s largest database of publicly-available toilets. It is run by Public Convenience, a collaboration between software developer Neontribe and Dr Jo-Anne Bichard alongside Gail Ramster, who created the map. The online resource includes any toilet that the public can access without being a customer, including facilities in train stations , shopping centres and public buildings. It is updated by volunteers and also includes details such as opening hours and whether toilets are accessible. The map shows the availability of public toilets across the city (Image: Toilet Map) The map comes as part of a campaign from Age UK called London Loos, which looks to improve the availability of public toilets across the city. The charity claimed there ar...

Two 'beloved' restaurants in Soho have been given a 'final chance' to stay open after repeatedly selling alcohol without food . Westminster City Council said Violet's and the next door Mediterranean Café on Berwick Street could reopen after a three-month suspension. The council's Licensing Committee also barred Ali Aksu, the venues' owner, and his brother Mehmet, from working inside either premises and ordered a new manager be put in place, during a licensing meeting on Thursday (January 16). They also required Mr Aksu to erect a sign outside his restaurants warning customers alcohol could only be sold with a meal. It comes after the popular eateries were reportedly found selling alcohol after hours and allowing customers to drink without food, in breach of their licences. On Thursday, councillor Angela Piddock, Chair of the Licensing Committee, said Mr Aksu was to blame for the venues' non-compliance. Westminster City Council (picture...

Primark's parent company will next week shed light on whether it has been knocked by tough conditions on the high street – or benefited from a splurge in festive shopping. Associated British Foods (ABF) will also reveal whether the consumer group, which also makes food and ingredients, has been affected by recent weakness in sugar prices. The FTSE 100 company will post a trading update for its latest quarter on Thursday, January 23. It comes after a year which saw shares lift strongly in 2024 before sinking later in the year as it came under pressure from lower sugar prices and concerns over consumer sentiment. On Friday, the Office for National Statistics (ONS) revealed that the UK retail sector saw a weaker-than-expected December, as sales dropped by 0.3% for the month. It came amid continued pressure on household budgets from rising mortgage and rental costs. However, investors will take some positivity from the figures, which pointed towards 4.4% growth for clothing and fo...

London is an ever-changing city with over a thousand years of history and often seems to take a life of its own. With this wealth of history at its disposal there are some areas which really feel like they can transport you back in time. They have been missed by the steamrollers of change and serve as homages to the lives that once roamed the same streets we do now. Ezra Street , just off the famous Columbia Road , is one of these places. And the East London location hasn't gone unnoticed by top film producers as it is regularly used in period films. Most recently, a very friendly Kate Winslet visited during the filming of Lee, according to local publican Grace Mpofu. Grace Mpofu works in The Royal Oak pub on the corner of Ezra Street and met Kate Winsley while she was filming for Lee outside the pub (Image: Facundo Arrizabalaga/MyLondon) Grace has worked at The Royal Oak on the corner of Ezra Street for the last four years and was thrilled to see the global su...

Lambeth Council's new top boss is set to be paid £230,000 per year — over £40,000 more than his drink-driving predecessor. Ian Davis's six-digit salary is expected to be rubberstamped by councillors at a meeting next Wednesday (January 22). Mr Davis was announced as the Labour -run council's new Chief Executive in December, replacing Bayo Dosunmu who resigned after getting caught drink-driving by police in June 2024. Dosunmu was paid just under £190,000 per year before his resignation from the council in July 2024. Mr Davis was on just over £220,000 in his previous job as Chief Executive of Enfield Council in North London, to which he was appointed in 2017. Former Lambeth Council Chief Executive Bayo Dosunmu resigned in July 2024 after getting caught drink-driving by police (Image: Facundo Arrizabalaga/MyLondon) Lambeth received 14 applications for the Chief Executive position following a recruitment campaign it launched in September 2024. Eight can...

A jury is expected to return a verdict in the trial of a teenager accused of murdering 15-year-old Elianne Andam after a row over a teddy bear. Hassan Sentamu, 18, is accused of stabbing Elianne in the neck outside the Whitgift Centre in Croydon town centre on September 27 2023. The defendant, who declined to give evidence, claimed his autism spectrum disorder caused him to lose control during the meeting to exchange belongings with his ex-girlfriend, who was Elianne’s friend. The prosecution said he flew into a rage of 'white hot anger' and had no lawful excuse for having a kitchen knife, having picked it up at home after being 'humiliated' by a group of girls the night before. The defence said Sentamu's autism meant he was unable to regulate his emotions when Elianne grabbed a Tesco bag from him containing handwritten love-letters to his former girlfriend. Two 'equally eminent' forensic psychiatrists, with opposing diagnoses and views on the relevance...

Two Tube stops on the London Underground map are causing a bit of a headache for commuters and tourists alike, as they share the same name but are actually different stations. West London locals will be all too familiar with the baffling situation at Edgware Road, where one station serves the Bakerloo line and another caters to the Circle, District and Hammersmith and City lines. It's a right old pickle for unsuspecting tourists who pop out from the Bakerloo line only to find they're at the wrong station for their Circle line change. A five-minute stroll around the corner is needed to reach the correct station - a simple renaming could save a lot of confusion. There are 2 Edgware Road stations, a 5-minute walk apart (Image: SHAUN CURRY/AFP via Getty Images) If you fancy travelling between them via the Tube, you'd need to hop on a train to Paddington and change there - another station that's technically two separate ones. To add to the confusion, t...

Brexit has left those with an EU passport envied and revered among their peers. So you might be surprised to hear that the UK still ranks pretty highly in the global passport rankings. Singapore took number one spot in the Henley Passport Index for 2025. Anyone with a Singaporean passport can visit 195 destinations without needing a visa. A Japanese passport was the second most valuable. It unlocked the door to 193 different countries without requiring a visa. Third place was split amongst several countries - Finland, France, Germany, Italy, South Korea and Spain. Anyone with one of these passports can visit 192 different countries visa-free. A British passport unlocks 190 destinations visa-free (Image: belterz/E+/Getty) The UK wasn’t too far down on the list, coming in at fifth place alongside Belgium, New Zealand, Portugal and Switzerland. All of these passports have access to a respectable 190 countries around the world without needing a visa. At the bot...