People are calling for there to be an extra bank holiday in England if the Lionesses clinch the win in the UEFA Women’s EURO 2022 final.
After what has truly been an outstanding string of victories in the lead-up to the grand finale of European football’s flagship tournament over the last couple of weeks, England women’s national team are set to face Germany in a long-awaited showdown on Sunday evening.
The Lionesses will play in front of a sold-out Wembley Stadium after booking their ticket to the final by beating competition favourites Sweden in the semi-final on Tuesday.
Beth Mead, Lucy Bronze, Alessia Russo, and Fran Kirby all found the back of the net for England in the thrilling 4-0 victory, which is just one of several wins that have gone on to inspire the nation and prompted people on social media to call for an extra bank holiday should the Lionesses come out on top this Sunday.
The calls for an extra bank holiday should England’s women’s team bring home the title of European champions come after similar calls were made when the England men’s equally made their way to the EURO 2020 final against Italy last year.
Although, as most football fans will know, that extra day off was never granted as the Three Lions lost out – but many are hoping for a different ending to the story this weekend.
Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer – who was spotted at Tuesday’s semi-final match at Bramall Lane in Sheffield with his wife, Victoria – is one of the notable names who has reportedly joined fans in calling for a “day of celebration” in the form of an extra bank holiday.
He told The Mirror: “The whole country will be roaring on the Lionesses in the final on Sunday.
“They have already done us proud, but if they win it will be a truly historic achievement – one that should be marked with a proper day of celebration, where clubs can open and promote access for women and girls.”
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Starmer’s endorsement of an extra bank holiday follows Tory former Sports Minister Tracey Crouch and Liberal Democrat leader Sir Ed Davey’s own calls for a day of worthy celebrations.
England will face Germany in the final of the UEFA Women’s EURO 2022 on Sunday / Credit: Lionesses (via Twitter)
Tracey Crouch also told The Mirror: “The Lionesses have already made the nation so proud, blazing a trail for women’s football everywhere [so] if we win on Sunday, let’s give everyone a chance to celebrate with a special bank holiday as we said we would for the men.”
Sir Ed Davey added: “If football comes home, then the country must be allowed to celebrate it.”
In response to the growing calls for an extra bank holiday in the event of the Lionesses’ victory, a government spokesperson has said: “The current pattern of public and bank holidays is well established and while an additional bank holiday may benefit some communities and sectors, the cost to the economy of an additional bank holiday is considerable.”
Morrisons has launched a nationwide search for its first-ever Chief Doughnut Tester
Emily Sergeant
Today is National Doughnut Day, and to celebrate, Morrisons is on the look-out for one sweet treat fan to take on a new role.
That’s right – today (5 June) is National Doughnut Day, and Morrisons is officially on the hunt for the nation’s ultimate doughnut devotee with the launch of its brand-new (and delicious) role, The Chief Doughnut Tester – with all glaze enthusiasts, sprinkle connoisseurs, and jam-filled aficionados urged to get applying.
The search is on to crown one lucky fan who’ll take on the dream job of taste-testing their way through the supermarket‘s range of doughnuts.
The Chief Doughnut Tester is more than just a title, Morrisons says it’s ‘serious business’.
Morrisons has launched a nationwide search for its first-ever Chief Doughnut Tester / Credit: Morrisons
The new hire will be tasked with taste-testing doughnuts before they hit the shelves, giving verdicts on new flavours and textures, all in the name of research.
The role will also involve teaming up with Morrisons’ internal doughnut-expert team to develop new and limited-edition treats that’ll be in stores next year.
Crowned as the nation’s definitive doughnut authority, the selected winner won’t just earn the title of Chief Doughnut Tester, they’ll also receive the ultimate of sweet perks – a year’s free supply of Morrisons fresh doughnuts, which the retailer sells more than 1.1 million of weekly.
Aspiring Chief Doughnut Testers can apply on the Morrisons website here, by filling in a short 200-words about why’re the ideal candidate.
Applications close at midnight tonight (Friday 5 June), so you’ll need to be quick.
Featured Image – Annie Spratt (via Unsplash)
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First-ever JD Wetherspoon pub to open at Manchester Airport
Danny Jones
In news that we feel many Mancs and travellers all-round have been waiting on for a long time, the well-known British chain, JD Wetherspoon, will be opening its first-ever pub at Manchester Airport.
That’s right: soon that first airport pint of the holiday could actually be a relatively cheap one.
While Wetherspoons are no strangers to popping up in terminals across the UK and Ireland, they’ve never done so here in Manchester despite having three, yes THREE, in Gatwick alone.
Not for much longer, though, as soon T2 will be lending more than 3,000 square feet of its prime leisure and retail real estate to a new Greater Manchester ‘Spoons’.
Posting on social media, the airport wrote: “Wetherspoon comes to Manchester Airport this September! The pub will be located in the Terminal 2 Departures lounge and will have more than 300 seats.
“This will become the final major food and drink venue to open its doors as part of our decade-long £1.3bn transformation of Terminal 2. It will be named ‘The Belle Vue’, in a nod to Manchester’s historic showground [now a sports complex and leisure hub].
“It was a focal point for social life in the city from the Victorian period up until 2020, when the final event was held at Belle Vue stadium. The design of the pub is inspired by the history of Belle Vue and the sporting culture of the North West of England. We look forward to welcoming you all in September!”
While a lot of money has been pumped into T2’s refurb as a whole over the past few years, it remains unclear just how much this particular new addition will cost; we do know that great sums were set aside for the launch of the Great Northern Market last year.
The inaugural Manchester Airport Spoons is just the latest in a series of major renovations.
As mentioned, the company already operate several up and down the country – 10 airport pubs, to be specific – but this will be the first in the North West.
Speaking on the news, JD Wetherspoon chief executive John Hutson said in a statement: “We are looking forward to opening at Manchester Airport. We believe our new pub will prove popular with travellers of all ages and be an asset to the new terminal.”
With Manchester Airport adding a dozen new routes to its roster this summer, you can expect to see even more people flying in and out than ever – no doubt having already polished off a cut-price pint or two beforehand.