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A family who visited Center Parcs Elveden Forest in the UK during the school summer holidays in 2024 has shared their brutally honest review of the popular holiday resort after spending nearly £2,700

A mum who forked out nearly £2,700 for a week-long summer break at Center Parcs has voiced her astonishment at the prices in the on-site supermarket, particularly for a bottle of ketchup. Vicky Smith, speaking on her YouTube channel, gave a candid breakdown of the costs, cautioning that while the experience can be enchanting for kids, the food prices on site might give parents a jolt.

The family, who holidayed at Center Parcs Elveden Forest in August 2024 with their two children aged seven and nine, had strong views about whether the popular UK holiday resort truly justifies its hefty price tag. “We have just come back from a week’s holiday at Center Parcs with our two children aged seven and nine,” Vicky detailed, stating their intention was to provide “very-very honest views on staying at Center Parcs” for families contemplating a booking.

The primary concern, she highlighted, was the expense. Visiting during the school summer holidays meant dealing with peak prices, which they described as unavoidable for many families.

“We went during August, which is the school summer holidays, which is when Center Parcs — and, let’s face it, all other holidays — are at their most expensive, and you really do pay a premium here,” she remarked.

The family lodged in a new-style Executive Lodge with two bedrooms, which cost them £2,648 for the week. This figure didn’t cover food or additional activities, with only access to the swimming pool included in the accommodation cost, reports the Express.

“I checked how much exactly the same accommodation would cost us during September once the kids were back at school, and it was over £1,000 cheaper,” she revealed, describing the price gap as “really significant.”

However, there were upsides. Entry to the outdoor playground — revamped in 2023 — is included, and it went down a storm with their youngsters.

“There’s a really nice mixture in that playground for younger and slightly older kids,” Vicky noted, highlighting climbing frames, swings and slides that kept the children occupied for hours.

The swimming pool also proved to be a major highlight. “The swimming pool is amazing. I can’t say enough good things about the swimming pool,” she enthused, explaining that unlimited access, from 10 a.m. until 9 p.m., was part of the package.

They suggested families could easily fill an entire week at Center Parcs by making use of the pool and park amenities without splashing out on additional activities.

Nevertheless, the mum cautioned that to experience the “full experience,” most families will be tempted to book activities — and that’s when expenses can spiral rapidly. “Those activities really, really add up,” she warned, questioning whether it represents genuine affordability and value for money.

Food shopping on site emerged as one of the most contentious elements of their visit. The Park Market, situated in the Village Square, offers everything from fresh meat to ready meals, which Vicky appreciated as a practical alternative to restaurants and takeaways.

However, the costs left her gobsmacked. “The prices in this supermarket are wow, just wow,” she remarked.

One product particularly caught her attention: “They were charging £4 for a bottle of ketchup.”

She also drew attention to an £8 disposable barbecue as shockingly pricey, alongside inflated costs for toiletries including shampoo and conditioner. In total, she reckoned prices were “anything from 10% to 40% more compared to normal supermarket prices.”

Whilst she recognised Center Parcs was “capitalising on the fact that they have a captive audience,” she provided straightforward guidance to fellow families. “Bring key supplies with you,” she advised, reeling off essentials including milk, spreads, table sauces and barbecue supplies.

The family made a pit stop at a local supermarket roughly 10 minutes away before their arrival, loading up on fresh fruit and children’s snacks. This approach enabled them to avoid depending excessively on the Park Market — a tactic they claimed made a significant difference to their total expenditure.

FANS are only just realising Marty Supreme star Odessa A’zion is a nepo baby who sounds just like her famous mum – but can you guess who it is?

Odessa A’zion, 25, stars alongside Timothee Chalamet in hot new movie Marty Supreme and recently appeared on the Drew Barrymore Show to talk about the film. 

When a clip from the interview was shared on TikTok, fans immediately rushed to comment on the similarities between the actress and her famous mum Pamela Adlon, who voices Bobby from King Of The Hill.

One wrote: “SHE SOUNDS JUST LIKE HER MUM!”

Someone else said: “I was thinking her mannerisms are ALL her mom, it’s wild.”

Another questioned: “Is she a Nepo baby?”

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And one follower replied: “Yep, her mother is Pamela Adlon.” 

Pamela, 59, has voiced Bobby Hill in King of the Hill since the show’s debut in 1997.

She has also voiced a number of other famous characters such as Ashley Spinelli in Recess.

Pamela made her acting debut in Grease 2, with other on-screen roles in Californication and Boston Legal.

She was also nominated for an Emmy for her performance in FX series Better Things, which she co-wrote and starred in for five seasons, appearing alongside comic Louis C.K.

Pamela is clearly proud of her daughter following in her showbiz footsteps, sharing an excited Instagram post about Odessa’s role in Marty Supreme.

“By the gods!!!!! I’m the mom——imagine…? I CAN’T handle. My little girly-poo did this,” read her caption as she shared the film trailer on her social media profile.

“She has always manifested like a motherfucker (also…she is very extremely talented) CONGRATULATIONS ODESSA! I can’t wait see this movie!”

Odessa stars in Marty Supreme as Rachel, the childhood sweetheart of Timothee Chalamet’s character Marty Mauser.

The film has opened to rave reviews and debuted on Rotten Tomatoes with an impressive 94% rating.

The up-and-coming actress also plays Tallulah Stiel in new HBO series I Love LA alongside Rachel Sennott.

Odessa recently opened up about landing her role in Marty Supreme – and confessed she was worried about the release being so close to I Love LA.

She told Time: “Marty Supreme was really the first time that I felt like, oh my God, this is the exact role that I’ve always wanted to play.

“I know sometimes people get annoyed when they see someone’s face too much.

“I didn’t know if it was going to be too much at the same time with the show and the movie. I didn’t want to throw people off.”

Venezuela leader strikes conciliatory tone while renewing claim US wants to topple government to access vast oil reserves.

Venezuela is open to negotiating a deal with the United States to combat drug trafficking, President Nicolas Maduro has said, even as he remained silent on a reported CIA-led strike on his country last week.

The latest statement, made during an interview that aired on Thursday, comes as Maduro has struck a more conciliatory tone towards the US amid Washington’s months-long sanctions and military pressure campaign.

That included, on Thursday, the release of more than 80 prisoners accused of protesting his disputed victory in the 2024 election, the second such release in recent days.

“Wherever they want and whenever they want,” Maduro told Spanish journalist Ignacio Ramonet of the idea of dialogue with the US on drug trafficking, oil and migration in an interview on state TV.

He stressed that it is time for both nations to “start talking seriously, with data in hand”.

“The US government knows, because we’ve told many of their spokespeople, that if they want to seriously discuss an agreement to combat drug trafficking, we’re ready,” he said.

Still, Maduro renewed his allegations that the US is trying to topple his government and gain access to Venezuela’s vast oil reserves through Washington’s months-long sanctions and military pressure campaign.

“If they want oil, Venezuela is ready for US investment, like with Chevron,” he added, referring to the US oil giant, which is the only major oil company exporting Venezuelan crude to the US.

Asked point-blank by Ramonet if he confirmed or denied a US attack on Venezuelan soil, Maduro said: “This could be something we talk about in a few days.”

To date, Maduro has not confirmed a US land attack on a docking facility that allegedly targeted drug boats.

For months, the US has launched numerous strikes on alleged drug smuggling boats originating from Venezuela, in what rights groups have decried as extrajudicial killings. The Trump administration has also imposed a blockade on sanctioned oil tankers entering and exiting Venezuela’s coast.

Tensions further escalated after Trump revealed earlier this week a strike on a docking area for alleged Venezuelan drug boats, in the first known attack on Venezuelan territory of the US campaign.

Trump has not confirmed widespread reports in US media that the attack was a CIA operation or where it occurred, saying only it was “along the shore”.

“There was a major explosion in the dock area where they load the boats up with drugs,” he told reporters at his Mar-a-Lago resort in Florida.

“So we hit all the boats and now we hit the area, it’s the implementation area, that’s where they implement. And that is no longer around.”

The US president has repeatedly threatened ground strikes on drug cartels in the region, which he has labelled “narcoterrorists”. He has claimed, without providing evidence, that Maduro leads a trafficking organisation that aims to destabilise the US by flooding it with drugs.

However, regional experts have noted that Venezuela is not known to be involved in the illicit fentanyl trade, which far and away accounts for the highest number of overdose deaths in the US. Trump has labelled the drug a “weapon of mass destruction”.

Maduro has said the Trump administration’s approach makes it “clear” that the US “seek to impose themselves” on Venezuela through “threats, intimidation and force”.

Maduro’s interview was taped on New Year’s Eve, the same day the US military struck five alleged drug-smuggling boats, killing at least five people.

The latest attacks bring the total number of known boat strikes in the Caribbean and eastern Pacific to 35 and the number of people killed to at least 115, according to numbers announced by the Trump administration.

Venezuelans and Colombians have been among the victims.

SOPHIE Habboo has shared a collection of intimate pictures of her and Jamie Laing’s first Christmas as parents.

The presenter husband-and-wife welcomed their first child, baby boy Ziggy, at the beginning of December, and since then have been adapting to life as a mum and dad.

Naturally, this Christmas was set to be one to remember, with Sophie pulling out all the stops to make sure the holidays were extra special.

Proud husband Jamie shared a video of the effort Sophie went to for Christmas dinner, calling her “superwoman” on Instagram with an inside look at what she’d been getting up to.

He wrote on the video itself: “POV: your wife is three weeks pregnant and still creates a magical Christmas”.

Sophie was seen in the clip layout out the table before doing a dance for the camera, while other family members were beginning to dish out dinner in the kitchen.

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Now, Sophie has given an even more intimate look at what their festive season has consisted off, sharing a string of photographs of both her and Jamie cuddled up to Ziggy.

Among them, the new family were seen posing in front of their Christmas tree, taking selfies in their hallway mirror, and posing with their entire family.

Others showed Jamie in dinosaur pyjamas with Ziggy asleep on his chest, the red and green decor around their house, and Sophie hard at work in the kitchen as she got dinner ready.

“Christmas 2025! The best yet ❤️” she wrote.

Fellow Made in Chelsea star Rosie Fortescue led the celebrations of the pair, writing: “Too divine for words ♥️♥️♥️”

Jedward added: “Awww beautiful here’s to the new adventure”, while influencer Holly-Evelyn added: “Absolutely stunning!! Merry Christmas and congratulations ❤️”

The happy couple revealed back in June they were set to expand their family – and have been keeping fans updated ever since.

Their podcast – first called Nearly Weds before being renamed Newly Weds – was rebranded again to become Nearly Parents in celebration.

Both have been praised for being brutally honest with their experience as upcoming parents, with Sophie sharing her health ups and downs as well as their shared excitement and fear over what lies ahead.

Following Ziggy’s birth, the pair treated themselves to a £14,000 a week baby retreat at Tenth Wellness at The Mandarin Hotel in central London to unwind and adjust at their own pace.

Described online as the “UK’s leading postpartum wellness destination”, a single night in one of their locations costs a whopping £2k.

The hotel includes a spacious, salubrious, on-site nursery that’s run by top-of-the-line nurses, with massage therapists and beauty technicians on hand to treat mum.

Packages additionally include optional lessons in all areas of postpartum care, including daily educational group classes, a lactation consultant session, and incision aftercare.

ADAM Peaty’s mum has U-turned on her decision to gatecrash his wedding to Holly Ramsay.

The Olympian uninvited his mother Caroline Peaty and the rest of his relatives from their big day after a family fallout.

Distraught Caroline had been intent on travelling to the lavish ceremony in Bath tomorrow despite being snubbed.

However, the swimming star’s mum has backed down, with a family member telling The Sun: “She will not be there because it would be too sad and she don’t want to spoil his big day.”

The change of heart comes as Holly Ramsay and her family were spotted leaving their £7.5m mansion to travel to the wedding venue.

Dad-of-one Adam, 30, and Holly, 25, are due to wed at Bath Abbey in Somerset on Saturday, December 27.

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Caroline had previously insisted: “I will be there and I will watch from the street.”

But she changed her mind after her devoted husband Mark made her see sense, telling her it would be “too upsetting’ to be there.”

Around 200 people are set to attend Adam’s wedding including Holly’s chef dad Gordon and their close friends David and Victoria Beckham.

But there won’t be any surprises from unwanted guests.

Sources say the couple have booked Bath Abbey “all-day” and tourists will also be stopped from entering the landmark.

A security team is also set to patrol to stop people trying to take pictures of the couple.

PRINCESS Andre has revealed that neither her mum, Katie Price, or her dad, Peter Andre, have watched her reality TV show.

The 18-year-old became a star in her own right earlier this year when ITV launched season one of The Princess Diaries, a fly-on-the-wall docuseries.

And despite the show being a massive hit, Princess says her famous parents weren’t sitting down on the couch to give it a watch.

She told The Sun: “I actually don’t think either of my parents have watched the show.”

“I don’t think it’s my dad’s thing, it’s more, it’s a show for people my age to watch, I think,” explained Princess, who was speaking at the launch of 3D Refirm x Facebible in Windsor.

Exes Katie and Peter share Princess and her older brother Junior, 20. While Peter is also a dad to Theo, Amelia and Arabella, and Katie to Harvey, Jett and Bunny.

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Peter and his wife Emily were featured in the reality show, but Katie claimed she was shunned from the series.

While her parents may not have watched it, Princess admitted she’s seen plenty herself.

“I watched everything about five times!” she laughed.

The teenager continued: “Just to make sure everything is how I want it and to check everything.”

The Princess Diaries has been renewed for a second and third season already, with Princess admitting that she has been filming “every day” recently.

“I’ve finished for season two and then I’ve got season three to film. So, I’m really excited. I think people are going to love it,” she said.

A date for the show’s release has not yet been confirmed, with Princess simply telling fans last year: “See you in 2026”.

In a break from filming, Princess was speaking at The Fairmont in Windsor, where Dr Raj Arora was launching 3D refirm – non-surgical skin tightening procedures – at her clinic, Facebible.

The doctor is a close friend of Princess’s dad and stepmum, Emily Macdonagh, who were also in attendance at the event.

She is the first doctor to offer 3D refirm at a medical-grade in the UK, with the treatment now available to book at http://www.thefacebible.com.

PETER Andre has shared a heartbreaking update on his mother’s health, admitting he worries this Christmas may be her last.

89-year-old Thea, who lives in Australia, was diagnosed with Parkinson’s and Alzheimer’s back in 2023.

Peter has spoken over the last year about his mother’s deteriorating health and the heartache that comes with it.

And in a new interview with OK! Magazine, he admitted: “Of course I worry this could be Mum’s last Christmas.

“She’s very delicate. Her Parkinson’s has progressed quite a bit. Her speech is almost gone. She’ll say a word or two. It’s heartbreaking, because she’s our world, our pillar of strength.”

Peter, who was raised in Australia, often goes back Down Under to visit Thea and his dad Savvas, 92.

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His older sister, Debbie, also resides back home and helps to look after their parents.

Admitting that it’s tough to also see his dad’s health decline with age, the dad-of-five said: “Then I see Dad and he’s 92 and with her every single day. But he’s getting delicate now, too.

“His memory’s going, but I am so grateful that they made that milestone I prayed for – 70 years of marriage in September.”

“It’s a raw pain. I’m a grown man, but I still can’t accept in my heart that these things happen to the people I love the most,” he added.

In September last year, Peter shared a heartwarming clip of his parents to social media as they celebrated their 69th anniversary,

His dad, Savvas, could be seen in the clip bringing wife Thea a beautiful bouquet of flowers.

He wrote at the time: “You inspire me so much mum and dad. Love you so very much.

“My 91-year-old dad giving flowers to my beautiful mum.”

Last year, Peter’s eldest children, 20-year-old Junior and Princess, 18, took a solo trip to visit their grandparents last year.

The holiday fell just days after his wife Emily MacDonagh had given birth to their third child together, Arabella.

The couple also share kids Theo and Amelia, while Peter shares his eldest children with ex-Katie Price.

At the time, the singer shared how proud he was of Princess and Junior for taking the time to visit Emily in hospital after labour before then flying to Austrlia.

He said on Instagram: “Junior and princess. The fact that you drove to Somerset to be with us hours before and the days that followed to see the arrival of your baby sister,”

“AND THEN to get on a plane and travel 12,000 miles to be with your grandmother in a very difficult time for her shows me what beautiful children you are.”