adults

Slovenia’s parliament had approved a law in July, allowing assisted dying after a 2024 referendum supported it.

Slovenians have rejected in a referendum a law that allowed terminally ill adults to end their lives, after critics mounted a campaign against the legislation.

About 53 percent of 1.7 million eligible voters voted against the law that proposed legalising assisted dying, according to preliminary results released by the election authorities on Sunday.

The results mean the law’s implementation will be suspended for at least one year. Slovenia’s parliament had approved the law in July, allowing assisted dying after a 2024 referendum supported it.

But the new vote was called after a civil group, backed by the Catholic Church and the conservative parliamentary opposition, gathered more than the 40,000 signatures required for a repeat.

Ales Primc, head of Voice for the Children and the Family, the NGO that organised the no vote campaign, reacted to the results, saying “solidarity and justice” had won.

“We are witnessing a miracle. The culture of life has defeated the cult of death,” Primc said after the vote.

Under the disputed law, terminally ill patients would have had the right to aid in dying if their suffering was unbearable and all treatment options had been exhausted.

It would also have allowed for assisted dying if treatment offers had no reasonable prospect of recovery or improvement in the patient’s condition, but not to end unbearable suffering from mental illness.

Prime Minister Robert Golob had urged citizens to back the law “so that each of us can decide for ourselves how and with what dignity we will end our lives”.

But the Catholic Church has said allowing assisted dying “contradicts the foundations of the Gospel, natural law and human dignity”.

In June 2024, 55 percent had backed the law.

Turnout at Sunday’s referendum was 40.9 percent – just enough for the no vote to meet the threshold.

Several European countries, including Austria, Belgium, the Netherlands and Switzerland, allow terminally ill people to receive medical help to end their lives. However, it remains a crime in others, even in cases of severe suffering.

In May, France’s lower house of parliament approved a right-to-die bill in a first reading. The British parliament is debating similar legislation.

WITH the UK’s weather’s getting wet and windy, I’ve found the perfect indoor attraction to go for all ages, right in the middle of the country. 

As your kids get older, the normal soft play options just don’t hit the spot anymore – but thankfully some have had a glow up especially for teens.

So we visited Flip Out Coventry, which opened last Christmas, to see if it would get the thumbs up from my teen, tween and tiny. 

Based in a former department store in a city centre shopping mall, you enter through a hall of mirrors and an arcade before exploring 13 attractions set over two floors of fun.

With a ninja warrior course, laser tag, bumper cars and drift trikes, I hardly saw the older two while we were there.

You know you’re onto a winner when the bank of PS5s loaded with games like Minecraft and Fifa don’t even get a look in, because your youngsters are too busy running from attraction to attraction.

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I think the dark space and graffiti vibe of the upper floor really appealed to my 11-year-old and 13-year-old, feeling a bit more grown-up than the bright lights and primary colours of soft plays aimed at younger children. 

But there was still lots to love for primary aged children here too.

My six-year-old enjoyed the inflatables, roller rink and football zone.

He was just tall enough to drive a dodgem by himself, so he spent a while whizzing around to his heart’s content.

The roller rink was a good chance for him to try out skating, with plenty of boots in all sizes.

And the drop slide to get from one storey to the other was a fun alternative to taking the stairs.

For little ones, there’s a dedicated toddler soft play next to the cafe area, so they can play in safety while tired parents have a rest nearby, hot drink in hand.

Family tickets for two hours are normally £65 for four people or £80 for five.

But we bagged an absolute bargain on a discount days out website, buying a half price family pass for £32 – £8 per person for two hours of unlimited activities.

My spectator ticket meant I couldn’t take part in the activities, but you can redeem your £3 entry back against refreshments from the on-site diner.

It’s handy if you’ve got kids who are old enough to play by themselves but you want to stay close by to supervise.

Looking at similar attractions elsewhere, you’d be paying around £8 to £10 per activity per person on a UK holiday park, so it’s great that you’ve got so much included in the price here and all under one roof.

If you’re not sure how your little ones will take to roller skating or if they will enjoy laser tag, you can let them have a quick go here and you won’t have wasted your money if it’s not their cup of tea, because they can move on to another activity.

The only downside to visiting the Coventry location is that it doesn’t have any trampolines, unlike a lot of its 35 sister sites across the UK.

A new Flip Out has only just opened in Leeds and there’s two more on the way in Wales and Scotland, so this could be a great indoor option, wherever you are in the country.

If you are heading to Coventry, Flip Out is just around the corner from The Wave, one of the UK’s largest indoor water parks.

While you’re in the area, I would recommend checking out Coventry’s Charterhouse, which was taken on by the National Trust earlier this year.

It’s a small but fascinating medieval monastic house, with a public playground just on the doorstep.

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Also on my Coventry to-do list is adventure playground Hermit’s Hollow at Coombe Abbey Park, which has just become free to enter. 

With family fun to be had at new attractions like Flip Out and Hermit’s Hollow, plus a refresh for established sites like Charterhouse and the Herbert, being sent to Coventry is a pleasure and not a punishment nowadays.

A HUGE car race track, retro arcade games and private Singpods – it certainly doesn’t sound like your classic pub?

Calling itself the ‘modern playhouse for Battersea,’ it recently reopened after a £1million refurbishment and I was one of the first to go down.

Formerly known as the Four Thieves, the ‘adult playground’ now called The Thieves, sits between Battersea and Clapham Common.

You can do everything you can do at a usual pub, like grab a cocktail, beer or bite to eat from their menu – from brunch to a hearty Sunday roast.

But beyond the pretty bar and plush velvet seating is also a plethora of other activities.

Let’s face it, the main event is upstairs inside The Thieves Gambit.

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Heading inside the arcade, you’re immediately greeted by a buzzy atmosphere, laughter, and of course, plenty of competitive jibes.

It’s slightly overwhelming at first because of the sheer amount of games – and the sound effects that go with them.

There’s air hockey, golf putting, Mario Kart, pool tables, virtual darts, basketball, and classic games like Pacman, Space Invaders, Tetris and Mortal Kombat.

Crazy Light was another favourite, buttons light up and you have to press them – the faster the better, obviously.

The main event though is the TRBO Raceway, previously called Moonshine Raceway, where players sit in gaming chairs and literally race cars around the track.

It might remind some of old Scalextric games – there’s even an MC hyping up drivers and if it’s possible, making everyone even more competitive.

It’s not easy either as I found out when coming last.

To play the games you need to add credit to your TRBO card which starts at £10 for 500 coins and you can top up throughout the night.

Downstairs in the basement is where you can sing your heart out inside the karaoke room.

If you fancy, you can book out a Singpod to privately belt out some ballads with your mates.

Not being much of a singer myself, this is one that I decided not to take on.

When you’re done with the games, head back down to the bar area where there are a host of live performances.

It’s not just a guy singing with a guitar either, I’m talking mega party vibes.

There will ABBA parties, Taylor Swift socials, cabaret shows, and themed brunches all under spinning disco balls and and flashing lights.

Coming up on the calendar are 70s dance parties to ‘Twisted Time Machine’ with tunes from the party eras, comedy nights, quizzes.

For guaranteed entry, time at the arcades, or a table for eating – make sure to book before you go.

Otherwise, happy playing!

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For more fun, check out the new adult-only indoor playground with pub games and prosecco-flavoured candyfloss to open in the UK.

And for when the sun is shining, check out the best riverside pubs across the UK including a moored boat and one ‘that feels like the south of France’.