fees

BLACK Sabbath fans were left stunned by sky-high prices at Villa Park – with a pint setting punters back up to £8 during the legendary band’s final hometown gig.

The Back to the Beginning supershow, held at Aston Villa’s stadium in Birmingham, marks Ozzy Osbourne’s last ever live performance – and the first time the full band have played together in two decades.

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But for many fans, the bar and food prices were almost as jaw-dropping as the music.

Inside the venue, a pint of Poretti lager was going for £8, with a half pint at £4.

A pint of Somersby cider wasn’t far behind at £7, or £3.50 for a half.

Cocktail fans after something stronger had to fork out £13 for a draught Rum Punch – while even a bottle of water cost £3.50.

In the Doug Ellis stand, the prices were just as steep – with a Carlsberg Pilsner priced at £6.50, a glass of wine for £7, and both a gin and tonic and a vodka lemonade costing £7.50 each.

And it wasn’t just the drinks that had fans digging deep.

Food options were limited and pricey too – with a sausage roll setting you back £5, a steaky pasty £6.50, and Yardbirds chicken and chips costing a whopping £15.

Even the basics weren’t cheap – a can of Coke was £3.50, a bar of chocolate £2.50, and a bag of Walkers crisps £2.20.

Fancy a hot drink? That’s £3.95 for a tea and £4.50 for an espresso.

Fans weren’t impressed.

Some took to social media to vent their frustration, saying the prices were “festival-level rip-offs” and that it “left a bad taste before the music even started”.

One gig-goer told us: “I knew it’d be expensive but £8 for a pint and £7 for chips? That’s taking the Mick.”

Another said: “You expect a bit of markup, but this is madness.

Ozzy’s not the only one going out with a bang – so is my bank account.”

The backlash over food and drink prices follows recent criticism surrounding the cost of VIP meet-and-greet packages with Ozzy Osbourne, set to take place during his upcoming appearance at Comic Con Midlands.

Fans are being charged £666 for the ‘Ultimate Sin’ VIP package – which includes a group photo with Ozzy, Sharon, Kelly, and Jack. But only two people are allowed per photo (except under-5s).

Want an autograph? That’ll cost extra.

Ozzy will sign a book for £225, or a poster, album or toy for £375. And if you want him to sign your guitar or mic?

That’ll be £750 – bringing the total package cost to £1,416.

Fan backlash has been fierce. One wrote: “Laughable prices, genuinely laughable.”

Another joked: “Time to start selling me kidney.”

While fans might be fuming over costs, the buzz inside Villa Park is electric.

This is a historic night – the last time Birmingham’s own heavy metal gods will share the stage in their hometown.

Ozzy, who’s battled serious health issues in recent years, admitted he won’t be performing a full set.

He said: “We’re only playing a couple of songs each.

“I don’t want people thinking ‘we’re getting ripped off’, because it’s just going to be … what’s the word? … a sample.”

He added: “I’ll be there, and I’ll do the best I can. So all I can do is turn up.”

The Back to the Beginning festival line-up is packed with legends, including Metallica, Slayer and Pantera – all joining in to celebrate Black Sabbath’s final bow.

Fans from across the UK – and some flying in from overseas – have packed out the stadium to say one last goodbye to the band that helped invent heavy metal.

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Brits flying with the likes of Ryanair, easyJet, Jet2 and British Airways need to navigate hand luggage rules but fashion insiders have revealed their trick to avoid facing hefty fines

Packing for a holiday should be a fun process, but we all know that between navigating hand luggage rules to checking your travel documents, it can sometimes become a headache.

Airlines such as Ryanair, Jet2, easyJet, Wizz Air, British Airways and Virgin Atlantic all have different rules around what you can and can’t take in hand luggage, and what the weight limit is for those bags.

There’s always that dreaded moment when your bag gets weighed at check-in, and you hold your breath and hope you won’t go over the limit forcing you to choose between frantically repacking in front of the whole queue, or accepting sometimes hefty charges. In fact, it’s estimated that in 2024, Brits spent approximately £205 million on overweight baggage fees.

It’s not just the weight of your bag that’s a factor either; the size comes into play too. For example, on Ryanair flights you can bring one free bag but it must measure no more than (40 x 20 x 25 cm) and fit under the seat. A second bag could incur costs of up to £36. With easyJet, the dimensions of your carry-on bag—including the handle and wheels—must not exceed 56 x 25 x 45 cm. If you go over this, you could be charged up to £40 to store your bag in the hold.

The good news is that there are some easy hacks to help you stick to the weight limit in the meantime. Fashion experts at Joe Browns have shared their top tips on how to pack lightly while still managing to get all of your essentials into your bag. Check out their top tips below…

• Focus on essentials: Go for items that have multiple purposes. Prioritise versatility over volume to avoid overpacking.
• Wear heavier items: Need bulky trainers or thick jumpers for your trip? Wear them on the plane to save space in your luggage.
• Plan outfits in advance: Before packing, consider how each item works together to create multiple combinations. Planning mix-and-match looks helps you travel lighter and stay effortlessly stylish throughout your trip.
• Be smart with layers: Rather than packing extra ‘just-in-case’ items, opt for layers that can be added or removed depending on the weather.
• Weigh your bag before you leave: Use a handheld luggage scale at home to avoid surprise charges at the airport.
• Consolidate toiletries and make-up: Streamline your holiday beauty routine by choosing multi-use products or minis. It’s a great excuse to keep things low-maintenance and leaves room for that one outfit you just couldn’t leave behind.

There could be good news on the way for passengers though, as a major ruling may soon allow holidaymakers to take two bags into plane cabins, for no extra charge. Just last week, the EU’s Transport and Tourism Committee proposed changes to EU passenger rights rules by 38 votes to two and two abstentions.

The proposals still need to be voted through by the European Parliament in the coming weeks, and then discussed by country representatives for the European Council, but it’s already a step in a positive direction for those who struggle to pack everything into one bag.

Have you found a clever luggage hack? Email us at [email protected].

Tucked away in Ryanair’s end-of-year results is a clear reason why the Irish carrier is so keen to keep the fee revenue rolling in, with its ancillary revenue reaching a record amount

Ryanair raked in around £24 in extra revenue from each customer who flew last year.

The budget airline has long been known for its punchy approach to extra fees, slapping on charges for hand-luggage that’s slightly too big, checking in less than two hours before departure and even for bringing a large water bottle on-board, as the Mirror’s Ruby Flanagan recently found out.

One unhappy customer found themselves unable to check-in a bag with Ryanair, despite paying to do so just a minute earlier. He ended up ditching his suitcase in the airport and sprinting to the boarding gate.

Tucked away in Ryanair’s end-of-year results is a clear reason why the Irish carrier is so keen to keep the fee revenue rolling in.

Do you have a travel story to share? Email [email protected]

READ MORE: Ryanair’s £91million baggage fines ‘frozen’ as major rule set for change

Over the most recent full financial year, Ryanair raked in €4.72billion (£4billion) in ‘ancillary revenue’. That means anything extra that passengers pay for, such as excess luggage, seat selection and a cup of coffee. For every one of the 200million passengers who flew with Ryanair last year, they forked out on average £23.80 on top of their ticket.

The figure is a 10% rise on the previous year, when Ryanair scored €4.30billion (£3.67billion) or €23.40 (£20) per passenger.

That number is a big deal for the airline, as it represents around a quarter of its total revenue for the year – €13.95billion (£11.9billion). If that ancillary income is removed from the Ryanair cost sheet, then the airline would be in the red, given its €12.39bn (£10.57billion) operating costs last financial year.

As of 2023, Ryanair ranked among the top five airlines in the world in terms of the revenue it generates from ancillary streams.

These figures make it clear why Ryanair and other budget airlines are so opposed to a vote by the EU’s Transport and Tourism Committee that would boost the amount of free hand luggage passengers flying to or from member states can take.

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“Passengers should have a right to carry on board one personal item, such as a handbag, backpack or laptop (maximum dimensions of 40x30x15 cm), and one small hand luggage (maximum dimensions of 100 cm and 7 kg) without an additional fee,” the committee decided. Before this decision becomes law, it must be voted through by the European Parliament in the coming weeks, and then discussed by country representatives for the European Council.

The proposals have been met with fierce opposition from budget airlines and the Spanish Association of Airlines (ALA), which has criticised it and the Ministry’s fines. The organisation argues that such measures limit consumer choice and disrupt fair competition in the EU’s single market. “It’s about offering different service models at different price points,” the association stated.

This week Ryanair was handed a massive £91million victory by a Spanish court. The budget airline has been let off paying a €107million (£91million) fine slapped on it last year by the Spanish Ministry of Consumer Affairs. The organisation had claimed that the airlines’ policies on charging for hand luggage violated consumer rights.

The fines were part of a wider crackdown that included three other airlines, including Norwegian, totalling €179 million (£152million) in fines. Now the Spanish High Court in Madrid has decided to let Ryanair off, allowing the ruling to sit as a precautionary one.

The Skye Bridge is a road bridge over Loch Alsh, which connects mainland Scotland to the Isle of Skye. The bridge was the scene of controversy over the fees charged to use it

The UK is home to some of the world’s most impressive bridges, with iconic structures such as Scotland’s Queensferry Crossing, and the Humber and Tyne bridges. With a total of 3,680 bridges, they provide vital links between regions and cities across the country. Scotland alone boasts 577 bridges, one of which sparked public outrage due to the toll fees charged for its use.

This bridge quickly earned the title of the world’s most expensive, until the charges were eventually abolished. The Skye Bridge, which opened to the public on October 16, 1995, connects the island to the mainland, reports the Express.

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Construction began in 1992, led by Scottish company Miller, but the design was the work of German engineering firm DYWIDAG Systems International, in partnership with civil engineering company Arup.

The main structure is a concrete arch, supported by two piers, linking Skye to the small island of Eilean Bàn, with the remainder of the bridge extending level to the mainland.

Spanning a total distance of 1.5 miles, the main arch stands approximately 35m high, allowing a clearance of 30m for boats at high tide. The bridge offered a faster and more efficient route for locals to reach the mainland.

Before its construction, which cost an estimated £28 million, residents faced lengthy queues during the summer months for the ferry from Kyle of Lochalsh to Kyleakin on the Isle of Skye.

The decision to impose a toll for crossing the Skye Bridge, which escalated from a mere 40p to an eye-watering £11.40, sparked outrage among the public, earning it the title of Europe’s priciest bridge.

Locals often quipped: “The Skye Bridge – the only place in the world where you get mugged AND get a receipt!” Skye and Lochalsh residents didn’t take long to rally together, forming the protest group Skye Bridge Against Tolls or SKAT.

After relentless campaigning, the authorities finally caved to the pressure, scrapping the tolls on 21 December 2004.

Protesters alleged that the firm running the bridge had raked in over £33 million from tolls, dwarfing the bridge’s operational costs pegged at £3.5 million.

A MUM has shared how she ditched the UK for sunny Thailand with her kids and husband.

Lauren took to social media and shared why she left England and has no regrets in uprooting her family to South East Asia.

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The mum-of-two revealed that she and her family decided the cost of living and their busy schedule was too much.

Instead of putting up with it, they sold their house and bought a one-way ticket to Thailand for a new life.

She said: “We didn’t leave because we hated the UK.

“We left because life started to feel like one long checklist we didn’t remember choosing. Wake up. Rush. Work. Nursery. School. Bills. Repeat.

“We wanted more presence, more connection, more sunsets and slow mornings.

“So we sold almost everything, booked a one-way ticket, and figured it out as we went.

“It’s not perfect, but it’s ours, and we’ve never felt more free.”

Lauren often shared her new life in Thailand on social media and recently shared one of their favourite breakfasts while they stayed in Koh Samui.

She headed to one of her favourite food vendors and ordered fried chicken and sticky rice before getting some Thai milk tea.

The mum even said that she thought the iced tea was better than English Breakfast tea.

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The mum added: “Hands down they are better than an English breakfast tea. They’re sweet, they’re icy. They do give you that little tea fix.”

She said the next step to the perfect breakfast was to locate the nearest beach.

“The beach closest to our house here is Chong Mon. And if you are coming to Koh Samui, even just on holiday, I really recommend this area,” Lauren said.

“It’s kind of like a mix between touristy but not too touristy.

“The beach here is so good for kids because the water is really shallow.”

Finally, she and her family sat down on the beach to enjoy their breakfast with a stunning view.

The clip went viral on her TikTok account @lifealongsidelauren with 120k views.

People were quick to take to the comments in awe of Lauren’s new life.

One person wrote: “Living the dream, I would swap my builders’ tea in England for yours any day of the week.”

Another commented: “I have been following for a while just wanted to say that because of you and your TikTok my future with my kids will look the same!”

“I haven’t seen your posts for ages, glad you’re still enjoying your new life,” penned a third.

Meanwhile a fourth said: “Brekkie on the beach..elite!”

“Love watching your adventures! We are coming to to Thailand in August and can’t wait,” claimed a fifth.

Someone else added: “Such an inspiration.”