Oasis

OASIS classic Wonderwall is on course to hit No 1 thanks to Three Lions supporters and The Sun. 

Their 1995 mega-hit Wonderwall has rocketed up the charts following England’s victory against Mexico. 

It’s currently No2 on UK Spotify and No15 on Global Spotify—a leap of 27 places. 

The track was streamed 2.8 million times on Monday following The Sun’s campaign to make it the England World Cup anthem. 

It is due to enter the official Top 20 this Friday and is expected to finally reach No1 next week if England beat Norway on Saturday. 

Despite being Oasis’ most iconic track, the song originally peaked at No2, famously kept off the top spot by Robson & Jerome’s I Believe / Up On The Roof. 

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Speaking to The Sun last month, Noel Gallagher backed calls for Wonderwall to become the unofficial England anthem.  

The footy-mad Manchester City fan, 59, said: “Wonderwall belongs to the people, and it was a magical moment between the people and the players.

“Best of luck to everyone who’s made the trip out there.” 

The movement was initially started by England fans who belted out the track alongside Jude Bellingham after their 4-2 triumph over Croatia at the AT&T Stadium in Dallas. 

Ahead of the World Cup starting, every nation was asked to submit a playlist of songs to be played before and after games.

England submitted three songs, with one of them being Oasis‘ Wonderwall.

The Three Lions are currently bidding to end 60 years of heartbreak and win a second World Cup title – and they are that one step closer after booking their spot in the quarter-finals.

ROCKERS Oasis will be back on stage next year — including a 12-date residency at the Etihad Stadium in Manchester.

They are also set to do a record-breaking run of six concerts at Knebworth.

An insider said: “Oasis’ schedule is booked.

“It’s 12 nights at the Etihad over six weeks starting in June.

“They will then play Knebworth six times over a three-week period in September.

“Dates could be added but for now that’s the master plan.”

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Brothers Noel and Liam Gallagher put their long-running feud behind them to re-form the band for the 41-date Oasis Live ’25 tour last year.

The band had split up in 2009 amid rows.

A source said: “Noel and Liam always planned for the tour to have a second run.

“There were discussions about announcing [it] during the World Cup because of the connection between Wonderwall and the Three Lions in this tournament.

“But they’ve settled on August.

“It’ll give the country something to shout about — whether we’re celebrating or commiserating.”

The Etihad is the home of Manchester City, the team the brothers support.

Oasis’ gigs at Knebworth will break the record for the most times an act has played there.

Over their six gigs the band are set to play to 750,000 people.

They performed two shows there in 1996 to 250,000 fans.

A source said: “Knebworth is a special place for Noel and Liam.

“The shows in 1996 broke records as 2.6million people applied for tickets.

“It was the largest demand for tickets in British music history.

“They broke that with Oasis Live ’25.

“Now they’re going to become the only act to have played Knebworth six times.”

The shows would take the band’s tally to eight and Liam’s to ten — as he did two solo shows at the Hertfordshire venue in 2022.

Demand for the new Oasis gigs will be astronomical.

Noel, 59, and Liam, 53, are set to stick with the same line-up as their shows last year — including guitarist Paul “Bonehead” Arthurs, 61, who had to take time off from the tour after he was diagnosed with prostate cancer.

There is speculation there will also be shows outside England, including in Rome and Celtic Park in Glasgow.

The Sun has campaigned for the band’s 1995 anthem Wonderwall to become the soundtrack to England’s World Cup campaign.

On Sunday, Mexico will take on England at Mexico City’s famed Estadio Azteca for a round of 16 World Cup match in one of the most hotly anticipated contests of the tournament so far.

But days before anything goes down on the pitch, Mexico and England fans have already started bickering with each other online — from cheeky jabs to heated debates about which country does beans on toast better.

Joining in on the soccer smack talk are two of the biggest rock stars from the countries — Liam Gallagher of Oasis fame and Maná frontman Fher Olvera.

The beef kicked off Wednesday morning when Gallagher replied to a fan question on X about the possibility of England playing Mexico on their home turf before the Three Lions sealed their win against DR Congo.

“Liam how do you feel about England being crushed at the azteca,” the X user @angelchilddemo asked.

Gallagher answered by writing, “I think we’ll beat Mexico 5-0.”

The “Wonderwall” singer’s prediction was so audacious that Olvera took it upon himself to publicly respond with an Instagram video Wednesday evening.

“The singer of Oasis said that Mexico will lose to England 5-0,” Olvera said in Spanish with a giant grin on his face while draped in a Mexican flag. “No way! Check yourself dude! 5 to 0? Calm down! We’ll see you Sunday to see how it goes, dude. Don’t play with me.”

By Thursday morning Gallagher amended his prediction for the match.

“[L]et me just clear someting up I was obv kidding when I said England will beat Mexico 5-0,” the English rocker wrote in an X post. “I reckon it’ll be more like 3-0 to England.”

While Olvera and Gallagher will be at odds over the next few days, the two singers shared parallel experiences as Maná was one of the bestselling Mexican rock bands of the ‘90s and Oasis was the bestselling British rock group of the ‘90s.

Maná already made its mark on this year’s World Cup when it played its 1992 hit “Oye Mi Amor” at the tournament’s opening ceremony in Mexico City ahead of the Mexico-South Africa match on June 11.

Sunday’s contest between England and Mexico also marks the first time the English side will play at Estadio Azteca since the 1986 World Cup when they lost to eventual-champions Argentina in a quarterfinal game infamous for Diego Maradona‘s “Hand of God” goal.

The last time Mexico and England squared off in a World Cup setting was during the 1966 World Cup in England where the Three Lions beat El Tri 2-0 in a group stage match at Wembley Stadium.

Many might remember the days of visiting this water park that was renowned for its lagoon and dome ceiling, but today it paints a different picture as its left to rot away

When most of us are dreaming about cooling down in an outdoor lido or planning trips to the beach over the weekend amid the blistering UK heatwave, there’s one water park that lies eerily abandoned, without a visitor in sight.

Having opened in 1976, the Oasis Leisure Centre in Swindon, or known simply as Swindon Oasis, became a standout attraction as a swimming pool, sports complex and entertainment venue all rolled into one. The Grade II-listed indoor water park boasted a lagoon, a wave machine, and colourful waterslides underneath its domed roof, providing hours of fun for the kids.

The area was decorated with artificial rocks and foliage, with smaller slides for the little ones and even an Egyptian statue in one corner. It was once a colourful, vibrant space that has now become a haunting, neglected site.

But back in the day, for those eager for a night out, there was the concert hall that could seat up to 1,620 people, or hold around 3,000 people standing. It famously hosted the rock band Inspiral Carpets in the early 1990s and even inspired the name of the band Oasis.

Liam Gallagher is said to have latched onto the name Oasis after seeing the Swindon leisure centre listed as the venue on the Inspiral Carpets tour poster. Noel had worked with Inspiral Carpets and later joined the band Rain with his brother, Noel Gallagher, and they went on to call themselves Oasis. All thanks to the iconic dome attraction.

While Oasis never performed at the venue, Liam did appear at the Oasis Leisure Centre in 2011 with his band, Beady Eye. Alongside its high-profile links, the complex welcomed thousands of visitors during its heyday and was one of Wiltshire’s most beloved attractions.

Yet, all good things come to an end, and after 44 years, the Swindon Oasis closed its doors forever. Its permanent closure in October 2020 followed five months without visitors due to the 2020 lockdowns, which required leisure facilities to halt operations.

At the time, operator GLL said: “As a charitable social enterprise, we are not in a position to continue operating a facility that requires capital investment and is losing money, while accruing significant rent liabilities.”

Today, after five years left untouched, it remains eerily neglected. Photos released earlier this year show the inside of the water park rotting away, with its surfaces covered in grime and the remnants of shallow water a murky green.

With rotting slides, rusty rails and faded tiles, it’s hard to imagine that just over five years ago, it was the first port of call for families looking for a day out or a dip in its iconic lagoon pool.

In 2025, plans were made to replace the sports hall with 700 flats while keeping the swimming pool and dome. While the latter were approved, the council rejected plans for the flats. There were then hopes that it could reopen this year, but its future still remains uncertain.

Do you have a travel story to share? Email webtravel@reachplc.com

WHEN it comes to a holiday in Egypt, most Brits head to Hurghada or Sharm el Sheikh.

But there is a lesser-known spot in Egypt that people say feels like going back in time.

Siwa Oasisis home to salt pools that are more concentrated than the Dead Sea, clay houses and miles of desert.

You can float in the bright blue waters – just make sure to wash off when you come out with tap water as the salt can irritate your skin.

The pools are surrounded by desert, where you can do a number of other activities including sandboarding and ‘dune bashing’ where you race around in 4x4s.

For another swimming experience, visitors can head to Cleopatra’s Bath – a natural spring with crystal waters.

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Local legend has it that Queen Cleopatra used to swim in the circular pool and visitors can do the same today, as long as your shoulders and ankles are covered.

Around the pool there are even a number of cafes serving Siwan mint tea as well as freshly made juices.

Near the bath is also the Temple of the Oracle, dating back to the 26th Dynasty.

The temple sits on the top of a hill and is known for being the spot where Alexander the Great was named the son of Amun in 331 BCE.

Even though much of the temple today is ruined, visitors can climb to the highest point where they will get panoramic views with palm groves, salt lakes and desert.

The town of Siwa Oasis itself is home to hundreds of clay buildings, with the Shali Fortress standing in the middle.

The fortress dates back to the 13th century and is made of kershef, which is a blend of salt, mud and clay – all from the local lakes.

Despite heavy rain causing damage to the fortress in 1926, it still stands today with a number of alleyways and sets of stairs to explore.

One person said on TikTok: “The town itself feels like you’re stepping back in time.”

There is a catch, however – to get there, you will have to drive 10 hours from Cairo and pass through several military checks on the way.

You can fly to Cairo from the UK in July from £165 one-way.

With GetYourGuide, you could then head off on a three-day tour from Cairo to Siwa Oasis, staying in a lodge in Siwa Oasis for one night and a Bedouin Camp for the second night.

The tour includes exploring Siwa Oasis as well as the El Alamein Military Museum, Mountain of the Dead with the tombs of Si-Amun, dipping in Cleopatra’s pool and visiting the city of Shali.

Also included in the tour is a dune buggy ride and sandboarding.

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The package costs £307 per person.

Alternatively, you could head on a three-day tour with Viator heading to Marsa Matrouh, which Viator claims to be “one of the most beautiful cities on the Mediterranean” before reaching Siwa Oasis.

Similar to GetYourGuide, Viator’s tour will also take you to the Mountain of the Dead.

The tour also includes a dune buggy ride, camping in Siwa Oasis, stargazing and meditation, a tour of the Temple of the Oracle and a visit to Darker mountain.

Tickets for this tour cost from £197 per person.

A month away from its closure, onetime gambling oasis Primm, Nev., located along the state border with Southern California, has a new lease on life.

The Primm family, owners of the land that includes three casino resorts and other businesses along the 15 Freeway, announced Tuesday a partnership intended to save the struggling state-line strip and hundreds of jobs.

The deal allows Las Vegas-based Terrible’s, owned by the Herbst family and perhaps most famous for a string of gas stations and convenience stores, to operate the properties.

“What we saw with them is the same energy that we had in rebuilding Primm,” said Cory Clemetson, describing the new deal with Terrible’s in an interview with The Times. Clemetson is president of Primm South Real Estate Co. and a grandson of Primm founder Ernie Primm, who made a name for himself in Southern California in the 1930s and ’40s with his Gardena card rooms.

In the summer of 2025, signage blocks an entrance at Primm Mall, a once-popular site along with the trio of casinos at the California-Nevada state line.

(Bridget Bennett / For The Times)

“Primm has long been one of Nevada’s most recognizable destinations,” said Tim Herbst, president of Terrible’s, in a statement. “This partnership reflects our commitment to preserving that legacy while creating new opportunities for growth, investment, and tourism for decades to come.”

Terrible’s takes over for Affinity Gaming, owned by private equity company Z Capital Partners, in the full-circle world of southern Nevada gaming. In 2010, Herbst Gaming declared bankruptcy and saw Primm taken over by Z Capital Partners.

An email to representatives for Affinity Gaming was not immediately returned.

The process for the return of Terrible’s to Primm kick-started May 5, when Affinity confirmed the closure of Primm Valley Casino Resorts.

Affinity’s subsidiary, Primadonna Co. LLC, sent termination notices to more than 300 employees effective July 4.

The closure was devastating, Clemetson said.

“It felt like a gut punch,” he said. “I mean, you’ve got to be kidding me that they would announce something like that for the Fourth of July. Laying off in excess of 300 Nevadans who are mostly paycheck to paycheck with nowhere to go didn’t sit well with my family.”

Primm Valley was the last of three resorts built between 1977 and 1994 at the site that remained in full operation.

Buffalo Bill’s, the largest of the three resorts, closed 24-7 operations in July 2025, after Whiskey Pete’s, the original casino, shuttered in December 2024.

Affinity Gaming declined multiple requests from The Times to speak about Primm’s struggles.

In a letter presented at a Clark County Board of Commissioners meeting, Erin Barnett, Affinity’s vice president and general counsel, wrote in October 2024 that “traffic at the state line has proved to be heavily weighted towards weekend activity and is insufficient to support three full-time casino properties.”

Scott Butera, Affinity’s chief executive and president, offered a few comments about the closure at the May 21 Nevada Gaming Commission meeting.

“As a tenant with a difficult lease and an expensive property and increased competition every day in California … it just became a very difficult thing,” he said, “and we’ve been losing money for years there.”

Clemetson said that Affinity asked for help over the years, such as potential rent reductions, but that the Primm family was unaware of Affinity’s finances.

As for the future, Clemetson said Terrible’s was in the process of reacquiring a gaming license for Primm, which he hoped would happen in the next three weeks.

He also said it was the goal of the Herbst and Primm families to try to keep all workers who received a termination notice employed.

Clemetson said he was excited about Primm’s future under Terrible’s and chalked up its bankruptcy in 2010 to the Great Recession.

“They suffered a similar fate of many big brands like MGM and Caesar’s,” Clemetson said.

“They’re very well thought of in Nevada and they’re a very successful family who’s done well,” he added.

Speaking of Primm’s chances of regaining its former glory, Clemetson reached back into his own past as a young sports agent for players on the L.A. Galaxy soccer team.

“I can’t tell you how many people told me I was dumb to get involved representing soccer players because soccer would never make it here,” he said. “Now, Major League Soccer has a few franchises over a billion dollars.”

As for Tim Herbst and his family, “we believe Primm’s best days are still ahead.”

IF you’re searching for a place to cool off without the crowds this weekend, this lake has been described as a ‘secret oasis’.

Tucked away in Surrey is Divers Cove which not only has bright blue swimming waters, but lakeside sauna pods and a cafe.

Divers Cove is a 7.3-acre reservoir in Surrey and is described as a ‘haven for wild swimming’.

One visitor said: “It’s a fabulous place to go for a swim in natural and beautiful surroundings – it’s like a secret oasis in the middle of Surrey.”

Another added: “I really don’t want to say too much about Divers Cove, but this is because rather selfishly I want it kept a secret!”

Others described it as ‘gorgeous’ and the water as being ‘gin clear’.

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After a cold dip at Divers Cove, swimmers can warm up in one of the lakeside saunas, which is open on weekends.

The handcrafted pods aren’t far from the waters and can be booked from £11.99 per session.

During the winter season, there are ice barrels by the side for a chilly dip before warming up in the sauna.

The capacity of a sauna pod is eight people – but they can be booked for sole use too.

Also on the lakeside is a small cafe selling fresh pizzas, drinks and snacks.

While Divers Cove is popular for locals who have memberships, there is a ‘pay as you go’ option for visitors costing £11.99 which run from 9am to 6pm.

There are a few conditions of swimming at Divers Cove for safety – visitors will need to wear a wetsuit if the water temperature is under 16C.

You can check the temperature on the website before heading down for a swim.

And everyone entering the water must wear brightly coloured swim hats.

Swimmers can bring their own or hire these out at the venue.

For those keen to get into wild swimming, Divers Cove runs an ‘Introduction to Open Water Swimming Course’ as well as improvement sessions too.

The lake is an hour from central London – on public transport, the easiest way to get there is on the Thameslink to Redhill.

Then take a bus to Waterhouse Lane which is a short walk from the Divers Cove.

SMITTEN Oasis star Noel Gallagher is seen out on a date with his new girlfriend who is less than half his age.

The She’s Electric rocker, 58, and events boss Nina Johnson, 28, left a West London gastropub together.

A source said: “There was no mistaking the spark between them.”

We revealed in March the Half The World Away star had split from girlfriend Sally Mash.

Noel and Nina — who works for an events company — were seen smiling before getting into a car on Thursday night after a date at The Hart gastropub in Marylebone, West London.

An onlooker said: “They were laughing and joking, but keeping a slight distance so they did not look like a couple. However, there was no mistaking the spark between them and they were clearly together. They had been engrossed in each other’s company inside and spent hours together, just the two of them.

“Noel looked particularly happy when he came out — and who can blame him? As they got to the waiting car, Noel opened the door for Nina and they got in the back seat together.”

Originally from the South West, Nina is a marketing manager at London firm Rhubarb Hospitality, which organises corporate events, weddings and posh private functions.

She is said to have met dad-of-three Noel through mutual friends, and has spent a lot of time with him over the past few weeks.

A source told The Sun on Sunday: “She is a lot younger than him but that doesn’t bother either of them.

“They have been seeing a lot of each other in the past few weeks.

“Her career is going great guns. She is really bright and taking her career seriously.

“She’s her own woman and Noel really respects that.

“They really enjoy each other’s company and both love the finer things in life and go to a lot of the same places. It is fair to say Noel is smitten and he is telling people he couldn’t be happier.”

We revealed in March that Noel and private members’ club boss Sally had split after two years with “no bad blood”.

In 2024, Noel said of his attractive partners: “I’ve punched above my weight several times in my life, and I think if you can make a girl laugh the battle is more than won.”

He married Meg Mathews in Las Vegas in 1997 and they had daughter Anais in 2000.

After they split, Noel started dating Scots publicist Sara MacDonald, who he wed in 2011 after almost a decade together.

They had sons Donovan, now 18, and Sonny, 15, before divorcing in 2023.