opened

A NEW budget-friendly hotel has opened up in a major tourist destination.

A 532-room Moxy hotel has just opened in London’s Piccadilly Circus within an old office building in the West End.

The hotel is the largest Moxy outside of New York and inside, decor is inspired by Horses of Helios fountain, which can be found on Piccadilly Circus.

Pictures also show purple interiors, with neon lights and vibrant murals.

Rooms nod to the nearby theatre district too, with names such as ‘Showstopper’, ‘Showtime’ and ‘Spotlight’.

There are eight different room types, but each features a comfy bed, speedy WiFi, motion-activated LED guidelights and walk-in showers.

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One room option is the Moxy Loft, where guests climb up a ladder to a loft bed and underneath is a sofa bed.

However, some rooms don’t have a window.

The hotel has two bars, including House of Helios which is a 24/7 bar serving cocktails.

Then there is Snacks 24/7, where snacks and beverages are available at all times.

But it is worth noting that complimentary breakfast is not currently served at the hotel.

Until March 1, you can also book a Be My Moxytine stay, with accommodation, breakfast for two at Masala Zone, two cocktails and late check-out until 4pm.

It costs from just £55 per person to stay, or £110 per night.

Halima Aziz, head of hotels at Criterion, said: “The opening of Moxy London Piccadilly Circus marks an exciting milestone for Criterion.

“With its fun, energetic and contemporary concept, Moxy is the perfect fit for this global district – right in the heart of nightlife, theatreland, retail and the city’s renowned culinary scene.

“It’s a fantastic addition to our growing portfolio of prime hospitality assets, and we’re thrilled to be partnering with Marriott International to bring this building to life in a way that prioritises sustainability.”

Paul Thomas, vice-president, international hotel development at Marriott International, added: “By reimagining an existing building, Moxy London Piccadilly Circus showcases our commitment to bold, lifestyle-led hospitality while honouring the heritage and vibrant energy of one of London’s most iconic destinations.

“Set in the heart of the city, Piccadilly Circus perfectly captures the playful spirit of the Moxy brand, offering guests an immersive West End experience.”

Piccadilly Circus is one of the most-visited and busiest spots in the UK.

And around 100million people visit the giant LED screens each year.

The landmark is great base to explore central London from, with Trafalgar Square, the National Gallery, Leicester Square and Soho all within walking distance.

The brand behind Moxy – Criterion Capital – also recently opened a Zedwell hotel, which is the largest capsule hotel and can be found in Piccadilly Circus.

Travel writer Helen Wright stayed recently and said: “Inside, decked out with a modern concrete and timber design, there are nearly 1,000 individual sleep capsules over five floors.

“It’s a twist on the traditional ‘dorm style’ hostel set up as each guest gets privacy and security of being tucked up in your capsule, with the ability to lock it from the inside.

“On first glance, the dorm rooms, which are minimalist and dimly-lit looked a bit like a car park or a storage locker.

“However, inside, I was surprised to find a cute little space, with mood lighting and welcoming interiors.

“Each capsule is made from oak and come with a single Hypnos mattress, Egyptian cotton bedding, individual mini aircon or heat, smart climate control, noise reduction, and ambient lighting.

“There is also a plug socket inside, two USB plugs and a mirror.”

In other hotel news, these are 12 of our favourite UK hotels to visit this year – from cosy farm retreats to £55 all-inclusives in London.

Plus, is this the UK’s fanciest Premier Inn? New hotel opens inside former Victorian police station.

IT’S 9AM in Spain and I’ve just taken my first cold sip from a foam-topped pint of lager as the enthusiastic buzz of holidaymakers fills the airport’s departures lounge.

When in Rome… Except I’m actually west of there, in the Spanish city of Alicante, where the first international Wetherspoons has just opened its doors.

I’m one of the lucky few getting a slightly advanced preview of the boozer on opening day.

But I can already see a queue forming at the door – mainly all Brits who are excitedly posing for snaps under the large sign.

What’s not British, however, is the pub’s name: Castell de Santa Barbara, after Alicante’s glorious 9th century castle which is perched high on a hill, with impressive views of the coastline and sprawling city.

The first punter to order a Guinness is Sun reader Kelvin from Salisbury who says that the opening of the British boozer was “a nice surprise” when he turned up today. 

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“When the taxi dropped me off, I saw the Wetherspoons sign from the outside and thought: perfect. I headed straight here.”

He visits his local ‘Spoons a couple of times a month and an 11:30am pint isn’t out of the ordinary for him.”

Kelvin’s usual: “a small breakfast and a pint – easy peasy”, is on this international menu.

In fact, all the familiar favourites are, bar a few nods to stereotypical Spanish cuisine like the garlic prawns and Spanish tortilla, priced at a reasonable price of €12.45 and €4.95 respectively.

“It’s nice to get something different when you go abroad,” Kelvin says, eyeing up the European selection of beers on tap.

The man sat opposite us is sticking to the classics, though – burger and chips, washed down with a pint of lager.

Another couple, stood at the bar – admittedly not mega Wetherspoons fans, but familiar with the chain – say: “We saw the sign and said ‘we’ve got to try it’.

“We’ll definitely be telling our friends, who fly here regularly, about it”.

It would make sense that most of the faces here are British.

The pub has pitched itself in the non-Schengen area, close to the gates for UK flights to draw in the near 650,000 Brits that pass through this airport monthly.

The decision to open here feels like a wise move, especially with last year being a bumper year for UK travellers to this Spanish airport, which sits a 45-minute drive from the popular resort town of Benidorm.

Last October saw a surge of 5.9 per cent of British passengers passing through the airport compared to the same month the year before – and that number is expected to grow even more.

And what’s not to love about an airport Spoons?

It certainly feels much brighter than other airport Wetherspoons I’ve visited.

Floor-to-ceiling windows flood the small space with light, while candy floss, glossy tiles give it a warm atmosphere.

There’s a tea and coffee station in the corner, while behind the bar there’s not a whiff of scampi fries or walkers in sight.

These have been replaced by the European holiday favourite, Lays.

This one boasts something that all other airport Wetherspoons do not, however – an outdoor terrace, where you can catch those last glimpses of Spanish sunshine before jetting off home to drizzly England.

The only thing it’s missing is that familiar smell of well-trodden carpet and old chip fryer oil. Give it time, though.

And keep your eyes peeled for the appearance of more Wetherspoons, internationally.

Wetherspoon founder and chairman Tim Martin says: “We aim to open a number of pubs overseas in the coming months and years, including those at airports.”

Cheers to that.

Here is the airport Wetherspoons named the best in the UK.

WASHINGTON — The Justice Department has opened a federal civil rights investigation into the shooting of Alex Pretti, the Minneapolis resident killed Saturday by Border Patrol officers, federal officials said Friday.

“We’re looking at everything that would shed light on what happened that day and in the days and weeks leading up to what happened,” Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche said during a news conference. “That’s like any investigation that the Department of Justice and the FBI does every day. It means we’re looking at video, talking to witnesses, trying to understand what happened.”

There are thousands of instances every year when someone is shot by law enforcement, Blanche said, but not all are investigated by federal authorities.

“There has to be circumstances or facts or maybe unknown facts, but certainly circumstances, that warrant an investigation,” he added.

The Department of Homeland Security also said Friday that the Federal Bureau of Investigation will lead the federal probe.

Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem first disclosed the shift in which agency was leading the probe during a Fox News interview Thursday evening. Her department said earlier this week that Homeland Security Investigations, a unit within the department, would be heading the investigation.

“We will continue to follow the investigation that the FBI is leading and giving them all the information that they need to bring that to conclusion, and make sure that the American people know the truth of the situation and how we can go forward and continue to protect the American people,” Noem said, speaking to Fox host Sean Hannity.

Homeland Security spokesperson Tricia McLaughlin confirmed Friday that the FBI will lead the Pretti probe and that HSI will support them. Separately, Customs and Border Protection, which is part of DHS, is doing its own internal investigation into the shooting, during which two officers opened fire on Pretti.

DHS did not immediately respond to questions about when the change was made or why. The FBI did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

It was also not immediately clear whether the FBI would now share information and evidence with Minnesota state investigators, who have thus far been frozen out of the federal probe.

In the same interview, Noem appeared to distance herself from statements she made shortly after the shooting, claiming Pretti had brandished a handgun and aggressively approached officers.

Multiple videos that emerged of the shooting contradicted that claim, showing the intensive care nurse had only his mobile phone in his hand as officers tackled him to the ground, with one removing a handgun from the back of Pretti’s pants as another officer began firing shots into his back.

Pretti had a state permit to legally carry a concealed firearm. At no point did he appear to reach for it, the videos showed.

“I know you realize that situation was very chaotic, and that we were being relayed information from on the ground from CBP agents and officers that were there,” Noem said during the interview with Hannity on Thursday. “We were using the best information we had at the time, seeking to be transparent with the American people and get them what we knew to be true on the ground.”

The change comes after two other videos emerged Wednesday of an earlier altercation between Pretti and federal immigration officers 11 days before his death.

The Jan. 13 videos show Pretti in a winter coat, yelling at federal vehicles and at one point appearing to spit before kicking out the taillight of one vehicle. A struggle ensues between Pretti and several officers, during which he is forced to the ground. Pretti’s winter coat comes off, and he either breaks free or the officers let him go and he scurries away.

When he turns his back to the camera, what appears to be a handgun is visible in his waistband. At no point do the videos show Pretti reaching for the gun, and it is not clear whether federal agents saw it.

Steve Schleicher, a Minneapolis-based attorney representing Pretti’s parents, said Wednesday the earlier altercation in no way justified officers fatally shooting Pretti more than a week later.

In a post on his Truth Social platform early Friday morning, President Trump suggested that the videos of the earlier incident undercut the narrative that Pretti was a peaceful protester when he was shot.

“Agitator and, perhaps, insurrectionist, Alex Pretti’s stock has gone way down with the just released video of him screaming and spitting in the face of a very calm and under control ICE Officer, and then crazily kicking in a new and very expensive government vehicle, so hard and violent, in fact, that the taillight broke off in pieces,” Trump’s post said. “It was quite a display of abuse and anger, for all to see, crazed and out of control. The ICE Officer was calm and cool, not an easy thing to be under those circumstances!”

Biesecker and Santana write for the Associated Press. AP reporters Alanna Durkin Richer and Eric Tucker contributed to this report from Washington.