Alton Towers has shocked fans by announcing that one of its most popular rollercoasters is “closing” this year.
Nemesis is described as being “one of the most heart-pounding, exciting and exhilarating rides you will ever experience” – but could this be the end of it? Could Nemesis really be no more?
Well, don’t worry too much, as it’s not quite as bad as it initially sounds.
But for the next two years, the Staffordshire theme park’s iconic alien-themed ride, which first opened back 1994, and has been treating thrill seekers to speeds of 50mph around an inverted track of 250 tonnes of tangled steel’ ever since, will officially be closed to the public.
Taking to social media to share the shocking news today, Alton Towers announced that Nemesis will be closing on 6 November, giving fans less than two months to make the most of it.
The brief announcement reads: “By order of the Phalanx. Nemesis is closing. You have until 6th November to ride.
“Please make your way to Alton Towers in an orderly fashion.”
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The closure of the ride comes after a planning application was submitted earlier this year, which requested permission to carry out major maintenance work to the ride.
This includes the replacement of large sections of the track.
Although no timeframe for the completion of works has been released, it’s expected that the newly-refurbished Nemesis will reopen in 2024 to coincide with plans to celebrate Alton Towers’ 30th anniversary.
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Alton Towers announces its popular Nemesis ride is ‘closing’ this year / Credit: Alton Towers
The news that Nemesis isn’t gone for good will no doubt be a massive relief to all the rollercoaster fans who seemed gutted by today’s closure announcement.
Fans of the ride were quick to share their concern, with thousands commenting on the closure, including one who said: “Nooooo that’s my favourite ride, and my dad helped me conquer my fear of rollercoasters on Nemesis.”
“It will be sad to see it go,” another added.
A third shocked fan said: “Noooooooo!!!!! That was my first ‘grown up’ ride way back in ‘94. Loved it then, love it now. Gutted.”
Giving a little more insight into the reasons for the Nemesis closure, Kate McBirnie – Head of Product Excellence at Alton Towers Resort – said: “Nemesis is Europe’s first ever inverted rollercoaster, which has been exciting thrillseekers since 1994.
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“The legendary rollercoaster is loved by thrillseekers across the UK and beyond, and we want to give fans of the ride the opportunity to experience Nemesis in its current form before it closes.”
Nemesis will be closed from 6 November 2022, and all through 2023.
Featured Image – Alton Towers
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Half of Mancs don’t know how to cook Christmas dinner, new survey reveals
Emily Sergeant
Christmas dinner is one of the key parts of any festive celebration.
No matter whether you choose to tuck into a traditional roast with all the trimmings and lashings of gravy, or you prefer to go for something a little different like a curry or a Chinese instead, your Christmas dinner is a chance to gather round with your loved ones and enjoy one of the heartiest meals you’ll likely have all year.
However, some shocking new figures have revealed that half of Manchester residents have no clue how to even cook a Christmas dinner.
Through a major study by the UK’s leading electrical retailer, AO.com, it was revealed that the majority of our city’s residents are “losing confidence” in preparing even the simplest of British dishes – with a traditional roast or Christmas dinner being one of them.
A new survey has revealed that half of Mancs don’t know how to cook Christmas dinner / Credit: Freepik | GoodFon
As part of its new campaign to get Brits back into the kitchen, AO found that just 57% of respondents reckon they would be able to make a roast dinner, 52% could whip up a classic shepherd’s pie, 58% could cook bangers and mash, merely 61% could prepare a full English breakfast, and again, only 57% could tackle fish and chips.
Classic desserts are clearly a struggle for us Mancs too, according to the survey, as only 19% of respondents said they’d feel confident cooking a Christmas pudding.
The survey also found that nationwide, it was Gen Z – those between the age of 16 and 27 – that are the least confident in their ability to cook great British classics, while on the other end of the spectrum, Baby Boomers are the most capable, proving that culinary confidence increases with age.
Our region’s residents are apparently ‘losing confidence’ at cooking simple British classics / Credit: Freepik
Commenting on the results, Jay Lockton, oven expert at AO.com, said: “Kitchens should be a place of creativity and joy, but our data shows that a lot of people in Manchester are losing confidence in preparing even the simplest of British dishes.
“Based on our findings, many younger people may be opting for convenience foods or takeaways due to their busy schedules and the perception that cooking from scratch is time-consuming or difficult.
“But with simple guidance and the right tools, we believe everyone can rediscover the joy and simplicity of homemade meals.”
Featured Image – gpointstudio (via Freepik)
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New Hairy Bikers documentary to take viewers on ’emotional journey’ in tribute to Dave Myers
Emily Sergeant
A new documentary paying an emotional tribute to late Hairy Biker Dave Myers is set to air on the BBC in the run up to Christmas.
Dave Myers – who was most well-known for being one half of the famous Hairy Bikers duo that starred in the BBC cookery and travel show of the same name, alongside Si King – died earlier this year (28 February 2024) after revealing back in May 2022 that he had been diagnosed with cancer, and was undergoing chemotherapy treatment.
The final Hairy Bikers episode aired on 19 March following Dave’s passing, and viewers tuned in in their tens of thousands to watch the beloved show that had been entertaining the masses for close to two decades.
🏍️ Si King celebrates the life of fellow Hairy Biker and best friend Dave Myers in a special one-off BBC documentary
Si picks out key moments from the past 25 years of the pair's TV careers in The Hairy Bikers: You’ll Never Ride Alone
But despite that being the final episode with Dave involved, there’s still one last chapter left to tell.
Set to air on BBC Two on Monday 23 December, viewers will be invited on an “emotional journey” through the Hairy Bikers story with Si King, as he celebrates the life of his best mate and former TV partner.
The documentary follows Si as he leads a motorcycle convoy to Dave’s hometown of Barrow-in-Furness, while archive material, new interviews, and previously-unseen footage is shown to help celebrate Dave’s life.
A new Hairy Bikers documentary will take viewers on an ’emotional journey’ in tribute to Dave Myers / Credit: BBC / South Shore Productions
You can relive the journey that took Dave around the world while cooking up a storm as one of television’s greatest-ever double acts.
“I’m incredibly proud of the programme because it’s a tribute to my best mate,” Si King said.
“It was an amazing experience, I didn’t quite know what to expect. That was the whole thing, none of us did. We thought at the most we’d get 10,000 bikes, we didn’t dream it would be 46,000 motorcycles and a 30-mile tail, it was just insane. I just felt enormously privileged.”
Emily Sergeant -
21st September 2022 
