A ‘world’s first’ fish and chips-themed hotel is testing out the waters for an opening in Blackpool this summer, and it looks a bit, erm, grim.
Called The Jolly Good Fish and Chip Hotel, the prototype will be popping up on the coastal town this weekend for two nights only across 8 and 9 July – giving visitors a chance to see what a hotel inspired by the seaside classic might look like in the flesh.
Images released by Gala Bingo, which is behind the project, show the frontage of the hotel and – to us, at least – it looks part chip shop canteen, and part estate agents.
Possibly it’s the font, or it might be the bright yellow Gala Bingo sign above its door. There’s definitely some estate agent energy going on outside here, though.
Inside, it’s more like a canteen with a Gala-branded fish and chips counter and rows of tables with yellow and white gingham tablecloths.
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That said, there are some freebies in it for those who want to go down and see it for themselves.
Across the weekend, the pop-up hotel will be welcoming visitors to enjoy a portion of fish, chips and peas on the house – a dish inspired not just by British tradition, but also the bingo call 33.
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Guests will be invited to dig into their chippy teas as they play some games of bingo, also for free courtesy of Gala.
Image: Supplied
When it opens this weekend for its two-night run, The Jolly Good Fish and Chip Hotel pop-up will be ‘five in a row’ themed.
From midday until 8pm on both Saturday 8 and Sunday 9 July, visitors to the hotel will be invited to indulge in a free portion of the British staple, inspired by the iconic bingo call 33, fish, chips and peas.
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Guests will be able to enjoy their fish and chips at the hotel’s dining room and join in on games of bingo held throughout the day, or take them away to enjoy in the sun at the Blackpool Pier or Pleasure Beach nearby.
The Jolly Good Fish & Chip Hotel room will also be open for visitors to snoop around.
The Gala Bingo concierge will be there to meet and greet guests and welcome them into the ‘five in a row’ themed suite.
They can test out the hotel bed, and experience what it would be like to spend a night in the world’s first Fish & Chip Hotel room.
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When in Blackpool, eh. We just hope that the seafront’s resident scarecrow is in attendance to shoo away the birds.
Featured image – Supplied
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Tesco announces MASSIVE recruitment drive for 28,000 extra Christmas staff
Emily Sergeant
Tesco has launched a massive festive recruitment drive, with more than 28,000 temporary roles up for grabs.
With the festive season fast approaching, and most British supermarkets having already unveiled their Christmas food and drink ranges for 2025, Tesco is gearing up for what is always one of the busiest times for the year for the retail industry by launching a massive UK-wide seasonal recruitment drive.
The jobs will mainly involve working in Tesco’s Superstores and Extra stores.
Shifts will either be early morning, day, or evening shifts, so that prospective applicants can find an opportunity that fits around them.
With a wide range of roles available, the tens of thousands of temporary staff across the UK – including here in Greater Manchester – will be tasked with serving customers, restocking shelves, and fulfilling online orders by picking, packing, and delivering.
“With the busy Christmas period ahead, we are looking for people who can bring warmth, enthusiasm, and a helpful service to every shopping trip,” commented Ela Golab, who is Tesco’s Group People Services Director.
Pay starts from £12.64 per hour, and a night premium of an additional £2.35 per hour – with plenty of different flexible shifts available.
“From turkey and mince pies to decorations and crackers, it’s a big job keeping our shelves stocked up for the nation’s celebrations,” Tesco said in a statement on its recruitment website. “That’s why we need you – you’ll help keep our shelves filled and our customers jolly.”
Tesco says ‘no day is ever the same’ and festive colleagues will be able to ‘feel the impact’ they make on every shift, as they send customers home with a smile.
No experience is ‘necessary’ for these temporary roles, Tesco says – just the ‘right attitude’.
Fancy it then? If you’re keen to join Tesco’s teams across the UK this Christmas, then head on over to the supermarket’s recruitment website here to apply, or you can pop into your nearby store for more information.
Featured Image – Tesco plc
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Stockport drop first collection in County Classics retro range
Danny Jones
Stockport County have finally released the first drop in their previously teased ‘County Classics’ retro fashion collection.
The Greater Manchester football club are enjoying a great resurgence of late, currently sitting fourth in the table and unbeaten in League One, not to mention boasting three wins on the bounce; it’s a great time to be a Hatter.
Somewhat secondary, of course, but they’ve also got a great selection of well-received shirts this year, too, with all three of their 2025/26 kits inspired by a precious part of their heritage.
Clearly going down a hit, they’ve decided to double down on the nostalgia factor and reignite the vintage spirit of their famous 1996/97 campaign and THAT legendary home shirt.
Speaking on the release, County said in a club statement: “County Classics isn’t just a product range – it’s a series. A journey through time.
“Each drop will revive another era, another shirt, another story that shaped the club we love. This is more than nostalgia. It’s the heartbeat of County history, reimagined for today.”
We already can’t wait to see which iconic kit they tap into next; our money is on the 91/92 away strip that they paid homage to just last season.
Unsurprisingly, numbers of each piece have been snapped up in a flash, with supporters, rivals and neutrals alike dubbing the casual wear and retro footy shirt reissue everything from “amazing” to “sickeningly cool”, with plenty already asking for a restock.
You get a closer look at the collection in full down below.
Credit: Stockport County FC (supplied)
The retro ’90s style training line has completely sold out already, but there are still towels and bucket hats, as well as some of the retro County kit itself left.
With the ‘Back to 1996’ star priced at £50 and the likes of bucket hats costing just £20, you can expect to see plenty of Stopfordians wearing the new gear at Edgeley Park this season and, indeed, for many years to come.
If these classic football shirts and pieces of lifestyle fashion have tickled your fancy, you can see what they have left and grab your item(s) of choice right HERE.
What old County look would you like to see the club recreate next as part of the Classics range, Hatters?
Georgina Pellant -
5th July 2023 
