Premier

Welcome to our Who am I? game.

The rules are simple. Each day there’s a new footballer and the challenge is to guess who they are in as few attempts as possible.

After each wrong guess you unlock a new clue. The fewer clues you need to get the right answer, the more points you score.

Three is a good score, four or five points is exceptional.

So take part and return for more tomorrow.

Today’s player and clues set by BBC Sport’s Huzaifah Khan.

After more quizzes? Go to our dedicated Football Quizzes and Sports Quizzes pages and sign up for notifications to get the latest quizzes sent straight to your device.

YOU know what you’re getting with a stay at a Premier Inn.

Big, comfy white and purple beds. A nice telly. A clean and simple room with all the basic bits you’ll need. A solid breakfast in the morning.

But did you know that there are some UK Premier Inns across the UK that feel a lot more like a high-end stay?

We’ve selected the Premier Inn locations that well and truly push the boat out, with Grade-II listed beautiful buildings, pink neon cocktail lounges, and even views of Big Ben right outside your window.

Far from cookie-cutter hotel rooms, these standout spots deliver the very best in location, architecture, history and unbeatable views without the boutique price tag.

With stays starting from just £35 a night, here are the coolest Premier Inns in the UK you can book right now.

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London County Hall

This may be London‘s coolest Premier Inn location.

Here you’ll sleep inside a Grade-II listed historic building which is mightily impressive from the outside – but inside, it’s those familiar purple theming and giant white, comfy beds we all love.

Look out the window and see Big Ben staring at you from across the water, plus you’ve got the London Eye a two-minute walk away.

Book a room at Premier Inn London County Hall from £82 per night

Bath City Centre

Stay smack-bang in the middle of Bath’s beautiful old town, just 10 minutes from Bath Spa station and Pulteney Bridge.

Spend the day exploring the famous Roman Baths and Thermae Spa, and settle down for the evening at the Trinity pub just opposite the hotel.

Attached to this location you’ll find the Bar + Block steak restaurant, where you can tuck into a juicy ribeye or sirloin and are only steps away from jumping into bed afterwards.

Book a room at Premier Inn Bath City Centre from £43 per night

Liverpool Albert Dock

Stay inside a historic warehouse in Liverpool with this gem of a Premier Inn.

The building is a converted 19th-century Grade-I-listed warehouse, and is only a 20 minute walk from Lime Street.

Here you’re right next door to The Beatles Story, where you can immerse yourself in the world of The Beatles and delve into the famous musicians’ lives.

Book a room at Premier Inn Liverpool Albert Dock from £45.40 per night

Bognor Regis

Think Premier Inn, but boujee enough to post on Instagram.

The hotel chain have opened up a new location with fancy Premier Plus rooms right on the seafront of this popular coastal town.

Staying at the new hotel also gives you access to its glamorous lounge ‘The Social’, decked out with pink and neon decor, offering late night food and 2-for-1 cocktails.

Book a room at Premier Inn Bognor Regis from £35 per night

Cardiff Bay, Wales

The Senedd building and Millennium Centre both stand tall across the shimmering water from this well-placed stay.

This is Cardiff at its most photogenic – right on the harbour, with views of the city’s most impressive buildings, plus plenty of waterfront bars and restaurants on your doorstep.

It’s only an eight minute walk from here to amazing science museum Techniquest – so if you’ve got little ones in-tow, make sure to spend an afternoon here.

Book a room at Premier Inn Cardiff Bay from £47 per night

York City Centre

Is there anything better than the comfort of a Premier Inn tucked inside medieval city walls?

Get the best of both worlds with this York location – the modern comforts of a familiar hotel with attractions like The Shambles and York Minster just steps away.

Other great attractions within walking distance include the free National Railway Museum as well as the immersive JORVIK Viking Centre.

Book a room at Premier Inn York City Centre from £69 per night

Fort William, Scotland

Ben Nevis looms large over this location, providing the perfect, comfortable retreat for hikers to return to.

Tackle the summit via the mountain track, or take it easy and take the gondola up to the top for a hot chocolate with incredible views at the friendly cafe.

It’s a proper, budget-friendly base for a trip to one of the most breathtaking spots in the UK. You’re also only five minutes’ walk from the train station, making for easy travel.

Book a room at Premier Inn Fort William from £49 per night

Prices correct at the time of publication.

Welcome to our Who am I? game.

The rules are simple. Each day, there’s a new footballer and the challenge is to guess who they are in as few attempts as possible.

After each wrong guess, you unlock a new clue. The fewer clues you need to get the right answer, the more points you score.

Three is a good score, four or five points is exceptional.

So take part and return for more tomorrow.

Today’s player and clues set by BBC Sport’s Joe Rindl.

After more quizzes? Go to our dedicated Football Quizzes and Sports Quizzes pages and sign up for notifications to get the latest quizzes sent straight to your device.

WHAT’S better than a hotel stay? One that comes with a free meal of course.

During the summer holidays, Premier Inn is offering free kids meals throughout the day in over 370 locations across the country.

Premier Inn’s new Kids Eat Free deal is in place from now until September 1 at hundreds of its hotels – and you can check which ones here.

With the offer, up to two children aged 15 or under can eat for free with every paying adult.

So in the morning when an adult orders a Full Breakfast with all the trimmings from £10.99, kids can fuel up too.

Premier Inn offers unlimited cooked breakfast and continental with unlimited soft and hot drinks.

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In the afternoon or evening, up to two kids can choose from the children’s menu and have one free main meal per each paying adult.

On the children’s menu are dishes like 10-veg tomato pasta, spaghetti bolognese, pizzas, burgers, fish bites and poppin’ chicken.

Adults can opt for one main dish or a Meal Deal from £27.99 – it’s a two‑course dinner with a selected drink in the evening.

Adults can choose from dishes like fish and chips, curry, steak, salmon, pizza and a variety of burgers – which Sun Travel gave their verdict on.

There are lighter options too like the house Caesar salad, sweet and sour kings prawns and nourish bowls.

Premier Inn has also reduced the VAT on children’s meals saving 20 per cent on any additional kids’ meals not included in the free deal.

Here are the Ts&Cs for the Kids Eat Free Deal…

Kids Eat Free Breakfast: Up to 2 children (aged 15 and under) can enjoy a free breakfast for every adult purchasing a Full Premier Inn Breakfast.

Kids Eat Free Lunch/Dinner: Up to 2 children (aged 15 and under) can have one free main from the kids’ menu (small or large, if available) per adult.

The adult must order a main course from the core evening menu and a drink priced at £1.99 or more. For guests who have purchased a meal deal, this will count as a ‘main’.

Drinks will be charged at full price. This offer is only valid until September 1, 2026 inclusive across selected Premier Inn Thyme restaurants.

For more details of which locations are included please visit the website.

Welcome to our Who am I? game.

The rules are simple. Each day there’s a new footballer and the challenge is to guess who they are in as few attempts as possible.

After each wrong guess you unlock a new clue. Guess the answer after as few clues as possible to score more points.

Three is a good score, four or five points is exceptional.

So take part and return for more tomorrow.

Today’s player and clues set by BBC Sport’s Adam Millington.

After more quizzes? Go to our dedicated Football Quizzes and Sports Quizzes pages and sign up for notifications to get the latest quizzes sent straight to your device.

Welcome to our Who am I? game.

The rules are simple. Each day there’s a new footballer and the challenge is to guess who they are in as few attempts as possible.

After each wrong guess you unlock a new clue. Guess the answer after as few clues as possible to score more points.

Three is a good score, four or five points is exceptional.

So take part and return for more tomorrow.

Today’s player and clues set by BBC Sport’s Flora Snelson

After more quizzes? Go to our dedicated Football Quizzes and Sports Quizzes pages and sign up for notifications to get the latest quizzes sent straight to your device.

The town has been named among the prettiest in the UK, and there are now plans to turn part of a ‘under-utilised’ car park into a modern Premier Inn that’s just steps from its golden sandy beaches

A brand-new Premier Inn is headed for a seaside location that has been named among the prettiest in the UK.

The UK’s largest hotel chain, which already boasts over 840 locations, confirmed that it’s coming to Hunstanton on the North Norfolk coast with a 108-bedroom property on the town’s Southend Road, subject to planning permission.

In a statement, Whitbread PLC, which owns Premier Inn, confirmed: “The company is in early discussions with planners at the Borough Council of King’s Lynn and West Norfolk on the design of the new hotel, with a planning application expected to be submitted in the autumn.”

It also revealed: “The multimillion-pound Premier Inn will feature the brand’s latest guest bedrooms, including its popular enhanced ‘Premier Plus’ rooms, and guest-focused restaurant alongside dedicated on-site guest car parking spaces.”

The planned hotel would be the first from the chain on the North Norfolk coast. Premier Inn’s last opening in the county was the Great Yarmouth Seafront Premier Inn, which opened its doors in 2019. Premier Inn was also recently granted permission to redevelop its current Norwich Nelson hotel, which will include a new, larger 248-bedroom Premier Inn, student accommodation, a new public park, and an upgraded public river walkway.

The new hotel comes amid a proposed ‘masterplan’ for Hunstanton, which is currently undergoing a consultation until July 27. Its objectives include “promoting and diversifying the town’s tourist offer”.

Part of a car park described as ‘a generally underutilised area’, Seagate East Car Park on Southend Road, is the proposed site of the new hotel. Whitbread clarified: “The coach park and the Honeystone Public House car park do not form part of the proposed development site.” This location is just a three-minute walk from the town’s South Promenade and attractions such as SEA LIFE Hunstanton.

Hunstanton is a purpose-built seaside resort, dating back to Victorian times, famous for its unique striped cliffs, fine golden sands, and soft sand dunes. It’s also the only east coast resort in England facing west, meaning you can watch spectacular sunsets over the sea.

The town was recently named the UK’s best place for fish and chips thanks to the number of chippies close to the beach, many of which have won awards. It was also dubbed one of the UK’s prettiest seaside towns by Time Out in 2025.

Councillor Simon Ring, deputy council leader, said: “This is huge news for Hunstanton, the culmination of years of discussions between the council and Premier Inn, and I’m so proud the agreements are finally in place, subject to formal planning consent.”

He added: “The detailed designs, of course, will come out through the usual planning process and consultation. But the sheer fact that the UK’s largest hotel chain wants to invest in Hunstanton is a vote of confidence in the resort’s future, placing us alongside Norfolk’s other big visitor destinations, and this investment and new facility will hopefully act as a catalyst for further money, guided by our Masterplan.”

Paul Smith, regional acquisitions manager for Whitbread, said in a statement: “Hunstanton is one of the UK’s best-known seaside destinations and a place we’ve wanted to bring Premier Inn to for some time. It attracts visitors from across the East of England and beyond, yet it does not currently offer any branded hotel rooms to visitors.

“We believe a Premier Inn in Hunstanton would be a great addition to the town’s tourism offer, providing visitors with the quality, value and reliability they expect from the UK’s leading hotel brand while helping to support local businesses, jobs and year-round economic activity.”

Premier Inn’s statement also said: “In launching the plans, Whitbread has confirmed it does not have any agreements with national government departments to house asylum seekers at any of its trading Premier Inn or hub by Premier Inn hotels in the UK and Ireland.”

The brand also said it was looking for further potential Premier Inn locations across the country.

Have a story you want to share? Email us at webtravel@reachplc.com

Welcome to our Who am I? game.

The rules are simple. Each day there’s a new footballer and the challenge is to guess who they are in as few attempts as possible.

After each wrong guess you unlock a new clue. Guess the answer after as few clues as possible to score more points.

Three is a good score, four or five points is exceptional.

So take part and return for more tomorrow.

Today’s player and clues set by BBC Sport’s Huzaifah Khan.

After more quizzes? Go to our dedicated Football Quizzes and Sports Quizzes pages and sign up for notifications to get the latest quizzes sent straight to your device.

Taylor refereed the 2015 EFL Cup final, with Chelsea beating Tottenham Hotspur 2–0.

In 2020, he became the first referee since 1901 to take charge of two FA Cup finals when Arsenal beat Chelsea 2-1.

Taylor previously took charge of the 2017 FA Cup final, also a 2-1 win for Arsenal against Chelsea.

He also refereed the Community Shield in 2015 and the 2018 Championship play-off final.

Taylor received praise for the way he handed the Euro 2020 game between Denmark and Finland, which had to be halted when Christian Eriksen collapsed and suffered a cardiac arrest.

He has also been appointed to several high-profile Uefa matches, including the 2020 Super Cup final, with Bayern Munich beating Sevilla 2-1, the 2021 Nations League final, in which France beat Spain 2-1, and the 2023 Europa League final which saw Sevilla beat Roma on penalties.

Taylor faced a great deal of abuse after the Europa League final, but was firmly backed by Uefa referees’ chief Roberto Rosetti.

Roma boss Jose Mourinho called Taylor a “disgrace” twice in a post-match news conference before confronting him in a car park – an incident the Portuguese was given a four-match ban for.

Taylor was then shouted at by angry fans as he walked though Budapest Airport with his family.

In October 2025, Taylor spoke to BBC Sport about the impact of that night and the events that followed.

“That’s the worst situation I’ve dealt with in terms of abuse,” Taylor said.

“Not only because I was travelling with family members at the time, but it also highlights the impact of people’s behaviour on others. Even in a match like that, where there was actually no major mistakes in the game.”

Taylor, who also took charge of games at the Fifa Club World Cup in 2022 and 2025, hinted in last October’s interview that his career could be coming to an end.

“I’m 47 next week, so that’s quite old for somebody to be operating at this level, running around after people a lot younger than you,” Taylor said.

“It’s much more of a challenge now to maintain the levels of fitness and to rest and recover.”

His retirement creates a gap at the top of refereeing in the English game.

Refereeing body Pro Ref, formerly known as PGMO, has merged its officials into one group for the 2026-27 season.

The creation of the professional referee group, which will service the Premier League and Championship, is intended to give greater opportunities to up-and-coming officials, such as Farai Hallam and Tom Kirk.

PREMIER INN has revealed plans to open a £14million hotel in a seaside town.

The UK’s largest hotel chain is set to to transform an “underutilised” area near to several tourist attractions.

The investment by Whitbread, the company which owns the Premier Inn brand, has been welcomed by residents and businesses in Norfolk.

The site earmarked for development is in Southend Road, Hunstanton.

Premier Inn has been discussions to create the 108-bedroom hotel “for years”.

Planning permission will now have to be gained before the development can take place, which would be built near Seagate (East) Car Park, the council said.

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Simon Ring, deputy leader of King’s Lynn and West Norfolk Borough Council, described the move as a “vote of confidence” in the future of the town.

He said it followed years of discussions between the local authority and the firm.

“This is huge news for Hunstanton,” Ring told the BBC.

“The sheer fact the UK’s largest hotel chain wants to invest in Hunstanton is a vote of confidence in the resort’s future, placing us alongside Norfolk’s other big visitor destinations, and this investment and new facility will hopefully act as a catalyst for further money.”

Whitbread acquisitions manager Paul Smith said the new hotel would provide “visitors with the quality, value and reliability they expect from the UK’s leading hotel brand”.

Premier Inn currently operates nearly 850 hotels in the UK.

July 18 (UPI) — Ontario Premier Doug Ford on Saturday shot back at President Donald Trump, saying his comments about Canada’s efforts to control the ongoing wildfire crisis are a “shame” and “totally unacceptable.”

Trump threatened Friday to impose tariffs on Canadian imports and accused the country of “willful negligence” in its management of the blazes.

“I find it a shame, the administration in the U.S. and Congress people, writing these letters and blaming us,” Ford said in a press conference on Saturday. “They have a very short, short memory. We had the water bombers, everyone ready, going over to California — it was last year. We sent hydro linemen down to the Carolinas and Georgia to help out.”

Ford added, “That’s what neighbors do, right? You don’t get on and start threatening and criticizing because, guess what? One day it’s going to be your turn.”

As of Saturday, there were 959 active wildfires burning through Canada, 102 of which started in the past 24 hours, Canadian Interagency Forest Fire Centre reported.

The blazes have left more than 100 million Americans under air quality alerts, from Minnesota to Virginia.

“We are holding Canada responsible for the fact that they are not properly maintaining their Forests, and Brush therein, and the United States is being unnecessarily invaded by filthy, polluted, and unhealthy air, the quality of which is dangerous, and totally unacceptable!” Trump wrote on Truth Social.

Despite the dispute, Ford said Canadians would stand at the ready should Americans need support in the future.

“We’re going to be down there without hesitation to support our neighbors, which we should be,” he added.

July 14 (UPI) — Newly elected Labour Member of Parliament Andy Burnham was set to become British prime minister uncontested at the beginning of next week after securing unassailable backing from fellow lawmakers.

On Tuesday, with two days of the nomination period for the leadership of the party still to run, the former Mayor of Greater Manchester had the support of 349 Labour MPs, making it a mathematical impossibility for another candidate to overtake him.

Candidates need the backing of 81 Labour MPs minimum to be nominated — equivalent to 20% of the party’s 403 lawmakers — but the level of support Burnham has means insufficient numbers of uncommitted MPs remain to nominate another candidate.

Endorsements he needs from three other affiliated groups, including two trade unions, were expected to be rubber-stamped.

As the lone candidate to replace Keir Starmer, who resigned on June 22 after six years at the helm and two years as prime minister, Burnham, 56, will formally take over as party leader on Friday and become prime minister on Monday.

Burnham increased his support tally from 322 MPs to beyond the threshold at which he could still be challenged after hustings to answer questions from Labour MPs on Monday night with the proceedings held in private.

The former MP and government minister, who quit Westminster politics in 2017 after two failed bids for the leadership of the party while it was in opposition, succeeded at his third attempt, staged via a parliamentary by-election in Manchester just three-and-a-half weeks ago, which he won easily.

Burnham has promised a drastic transfer of power to the regions and to build an efficient state with a “laser-like focus on growth and regeneration,” but has said little else, in part because, with no mandate from the electorate, he is hemmed in by the manifesto that brought Starmer to power in a landslide general election in July 2024.

Starmer was forced out amid falling approval ratings and losses at the ballot box in successive local and by-elections, as well as rebellions by his own MPs forcing policy U-turns, and the debacle over his appointment of Peter Mandelson as ambassador to the United States.

The final straw was a disastrous defeat to Reform UK in “mid-term” local elections in May, prompting defections from his cabinet and growing numbers of MPs calling on him to give way to Burnham, said to be one of the country’s most popular political figures.

Chinese President Xi Jinping met North Korea‘s premier in Beijing on Friday ahead of an event marking the 65th anniversary of the signing of a friendship treaty between the two nations, news footage aired by Chinese state broadcaster CCTV showed.

North Korean Premier Pak Thae-song arrived there earlier in the day for a three-day visit to attend the event commemorating the treaty anniversary at the invitation of China’s Communist Party, according to the report.

The Treaty of Friendship, Cooperation and Mutual Assistance was signed July 11, 1961, by late North Korea founder and former leader Kim Il-sung and then Chinese Premier Zhou Enlai.

The Korean Central News Agency (KCNA), Pyongyang’s state media, reported on Pak’s planned visit to Beijing the previous day, without specifying a detailed schedule.

North Korean leader Kim Jong-un and Chinese President Xi Jinping held summit talks in Pyongyang last month and vowed to strengthen bilateral ties through expanded exchanges across multiple sectors, from economy to culture, as well as more frequent high-level visits.

At that time, Xi stressed the importance of marking the anniversary, fueling speculation that the two countries would hold a large-scale event.

In socialist nations like North Korea and China, anniversaries that fall on five- or 10-year intervals carry particular significance and are typically celebrated with grand events. High-level official visits and exchanges of congratulatory messages had been widely expected.

South Korea’s unification ministry said at a briefing earlier in the day it will “closely monitor” related developments in Beijing.

According to the ministry, this marks the first time in seven years that a North Korean government delegation has been dispatched to Beijing in celebration of the treaty’s anniversary.

The ministry also noted that North Korea has elevated the rank of its chief delegate to premier this year from vice chairman of the Standing Committee of the Supreme People’s Assembly back in 2019.

Copyright (c) Yonhap News Agency prohibits its content from being redistributed or reprinted without consent, and forbids the content from being learned and used by artificial intelligence systems.

The ‘UK’s poshest Premier Inn’ has all of the perks of a budget stay, but there was one feature that impressed me before I’d even dropped off my bags

I checked into the ‘UK’s poshest Premier Inn’, and was impressed before I even got to my room.

As the UK’s largest hotel chain, Premier Inn promises a restful night’s stay in more than 85,000 rooms across the country in over 800 locations. Owned by Whitbread, the brand is known for its budget-friendly accommodation, plush white crisp beds, and those iconic Lenny Henry adverts that are hard to forget.

Offering even more choice to Brits, they’ve expanded even further with Zip by Premier Inn and hub by Premier, which provide smaller rooms at a lower price. While they might be more compact, they certainly don’t compromise on comfort.

One hub has even earned a reputation as the ‘UK’s poshest Premier Inn’, despite only opening in February this year. Its location in a former Victorian Old Bailey in the heart of London might just have something to do with its label, that and its trendy interiors that could easily compare to an independent boutique, as I found out.

Finding a hotel in London can be somewhat of a minefield, with thousands to choose from, so when the hub by Premier Inn London Farringdon (Old Bailey) hotel popped up, I was intrigued. Not only was it nestled in a lively and convenient area of central London, with plenty of amenities nearby, but it also proved to be much more than a hotel.

That’s because this particular hub, or hotel, is housed inside the former Snow Hill Police Station, a 1870s Grade II-listed building that combines its original Victorian features with contemporary interiors for a unique and affordable stay. With rooms starting from £75, you can’t fault the price, and as soon as I peered up at the historic Old Bailey and walked through its grand doors, it felt far from a budget hotel.

What really stood out among its authentic features was the striking white-tiled stairway, with tall ceilings, arched windows, and a concrete floor that made me feel as though I was about to turn myself in rather than check in. It even boasted a historic blue, square police lantern that once guided residents to the station.

It genuinely felt as though I had travelled back in time as its heritage permeated every corner. It was only when I reached reception that I remembered it was a hotel, as its modern design gleamed throughout.

Just to the side of the front desk is a communal lounge where guests can unwind on one of its elegant sofas and armchairs. Beneath its white, ornate ceiling, the space is thoughtfully divided by a metal shelf adorned with vibrant cases and plants, making it feel like a home from home.

There’s also a bar serving up drinks and a dining area where breakfast is served up – I was even able to get my hands on one of their pizzas when I returned to the hotel at 1am – what more could you want?

For my stay, I checked into one of their standard rooms, boasting a double bed and en-suite. While it was compact, it certainly made full use of the 11sqm space I would call home for the night.

There was storage under the bed big enough for a large suitcase, alongside a pull-out drawer, and opposite a small desk area with even more space to keep bags out of the way, shelves and a built-in wardrobe without a door. Even the glass-door bathroom with its green tiles made use of its space, with the bin tucked neatly out of the way.

The double bed was fixed up against the wall to maximise the room, with the wall decorated in a funky London map, and the duvet neatly rolled up at the foot of the bed – perhaps to really show off its clever simplicity. There was even a small shelf beside the bed, along with plug sockets, to easily charge and store personal items.

And in its easy and efficient manner, the lighting and air conditioning are electronically controlled – so there was no need for me to wander around the room in the dark. The hub was the ideal place to spend a night in London, and I felt safely tucked away in my pod-like room, proving that you don’t have to sacrifice comfort, but perhaps just a little bit of space to secure a bargain stay.

Plus, not many people can say they’ve stayed in a former police station, or what I can now agree, is the UK’s poshest Premier Inn.

Rooms start from £75 a night. For more information or to book your stay, visit the hub by Premier Inn website.

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

A SCULPTURE of David Brent has been unveiled – at a Premier Inn in Slough.

The clay creation of Ricky Gervais’ most iconic character marks 25 years since The Office UK first hit British TV screens.

Commissioned by Premier Inn, it is positioned inside its Slough Trading Estate hotel – the exact location of the original exterior shots used for ‘Wernham Hogg’ in the series’ opening credits.

The beloved TV show followed the fortunes of character David Brent from his life as a regional manager in a paper office to life on the road as a travelling salesman.

It was unveiled by Brent impersonator Tim Oliver, who re-enacted the pose as well as some of the character’s signature dance moves, which helped make Berkshire-born writer Gervais internationally famous.

The bust – which took 120 hours to put together and weighs seven kilograms – will be a permanent installation at the site.

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A spokesperson for the hotel chain said: “The exact site of the world’s most famous office, Wernham Hogg, is now one of our hotels and so we’re thrilled to unveil this brilliant tribute to mark its place in British comedy history.

“Ricky’s iconic character truly put Slough on the map, and it’s only fitting to honour him with this memorable statue, which we hope will be particularly popular with some of the millions of business travellers who stay with us each year.

“Whilst the building itself is totally transformed – our guests are more likely to be interested in pillows than photocopiers – eagle-eyed fans will certainly spot the similarity in the footprint of the site.”

The hotel company also commissioned research of 2,000 adults which found David Brent’s unforgettable Comic Relief dance topped a list of favourite moments from the show.

It picked up 26 per cent of the vote from Office fans and was followed by Dawn returning to the Christmas party to kiss Tim in the denouement of the festive special (15 per cent).

More than one in 10 (13 per cent), meanwhile, selected Tim’s prank from the very first episode, encasing desk mate and nemesis Gareth’s stapler in lurid yellow jelly.

It emerged 72 per cent of respondents who watched the show consider it a nostalgic snapshot of what working life was like in the early 2000s.

Although 68 per cent are glad they don’t work in an environment like Wernham Hogg – the fictional working home of David Brent.

Elements of working life people believe have changed for the better include flexible working hours (39 per cent), improved office technology (28 per cent) and the business attire (27 per cent).

A fifth (20 per cent) cited an increased focus on wellbeing, and 16 per cent a greater diversity in teams, according to the OnePoll.com figures.

The spokesperson for Premier Inn said: “From tech to business attire, office life has changed drastically in the 25 years since the show aired but what hasn’t changed is the need for business travellers to know what they’re getting with a great night’s sleep in a comfortable room ready to face the day – no matter how embarrassing their boss is.”

The study also saw Ricky Gervais and Stephen Merchant, creators of The Office, named the best comedy writing duo of the 21st century (16 per cent).

They narrowly pipped James Corden and Ruth Jones, writers of Gavin & Stacey (15 per cent), and Dawn French and Jennifer Saunders (12 per cent).

The first match of the 2026-27 Premier League season sees the reigning top-flight champions face the second-tier Championship winners.

Arsenal will kick off their Premier League title defence against promoted Coventry City on August 21.

The Premier League fixtures for the 2026-27 campaign were released on Friday, with the Gunners’ home game against Frank Lampard’s Coventry among the highlights in the opening round of matches.

Coventry are back in the top flight for the first time in 25 years after winning the Championship last season.

Andoni Iraola’s first Premier League game as Liverpool manager will be at Newcastle United on August 23. Former Bournemouth boss Iraola’s Anfield debut is set for the weekend of August 29 against Nottingham Forest.

Manchester City start life after Pep Guardiola at home to Bournemouth on August 23.

City are expected to appoint former Chelsea boss Enzo Maresca to replace Guardiola, who stepped down at the end of the season after a decade in charge.

New Chelsea manager Xabi Alonso begins his reign with a west London derby at Fulham on August 24.

Hull City, who won promotion via the Championship playoffs, begin their first Premier League season since 2017 with a home fixture against Manchester United on August 22.

Elsewhere on the first weekend, Europa League winners Aston Villa travel to Brighton & Hove Albion.

Arsenal, champions for the first time since 2004, face a testing period after they host Coventry.

Mikel Arteta’s side head to Villa for their first away league game of the season, then meet Chelsea at Emirates Stadium on September 5.

The weekend of September 12 brings the first Manchester derby of the post-Guardiola era, while Liverpool host Manchester United on November 21.

City and Arsenal do not face each other until November 28 at the Emirates Stadium.

The first Merseyside derby of the season between Everton and Liverpool is scheduled for November 28 at the Hill Dickinson Stadium.

Roberto De Zerbi will get his first taste of the north London derby on December 5 when Tottenham host Arsenal.

The pick of the Boxing Day schedule sees Coventry boss Lampard facing his old club Chelsea on December 26.

The final day of the Premier League will take place on May 30, with Arsenal at home to Brighton, while City travel to Sunderland and Liverpool host Bournemouth. Chelsea and United finish at home to Brentford and Fulham, respectively.

The start and end of the upcoming season are later than usual due to the FIFA World Cup 2026, which finishes just 34 days before the Premier League begins.

Arsenal will face FA Cup winners City in the Community Shield, which serves as the curtain raiser to the top-flight season, on August 16.

IF you’re looking for an affordable stay that ticks all the boxes, a Premier Inn is one of the best.

Here is everything you need to staying at the Arundel hotel in Sussex.

Where is the Premier Inn Arundel?

This charming Premier Inn nestled on the edge of the South Downs, feels more like a cosy, country hotel than a convenient pit stop to explore East Sussex.

On the outskirts of Arundel, the hotel faces picturesque fields and is very conveniently located to explore Arundel Cathedral and Arundel Castle.

Both are less than a ten-minute drive away. 

What are the rooms like?

Premier Inn pride themselves on offering budget-friendly comfort in over 800 locations, and this country hotel is no different.

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Rooms, set over two floors, are simple but spacious, with double, twin, family and accessible options.

Considering the very competitive price for the area, the Hypnos beds are supremely comfortable and guests get a choice of firm or soft pillows.

With only 31 rooms, the stay was very peaceful too.

Double rooms from £113 per night. See premierinn.com to book

What is there to eat and drink?

The hotel has partnered with the Beefeater restaurant next door, offering meal deals for guests.

The offer includes a two-course evening meal, with a drink. Then, in the morning, breakfast is also included.

If you are travelling as a family, it’s even better value, as two kids eat breakfast for free, per adult.

If you want to venture into Arundel itself, the Black Rabbit pub is a local favourite.

Set on the River Arun near Arundel Castle, the pub has pretty views over the water and a great menu.

The sunday roast dinners are especially good. Arundel is also known for its quaint tea rooms.

Belinda’s has exceptional cakes and a cute outside terrace, if you can get a seat. 

What else is there to do there?

Being a Premier Inn, don’t expect any other frills like spas and gyms, so you are best to explore the local area.

As well as exploring historic Arundel, the location is an ideal base for Goodwood Races and you are around 20-minutes from the closest beach.

The free on-site parking is also a bonus, as most people come in by car. 

Is it family friendly?

Kids get to eat for free at Premier Inn hotels, and there are spacious family rooms you can book as well that sleep up to four people.

Is it accessible?

There are accessible rooms with wide entry bathrooms at the hotel.

Premier League referees will change the way they judge hair pulling next season after three players were sent off for the offence in 2025-26.

Officials will also be asked to place a greater emphasis on grappling and holding inside the area after it became commonplace on corners and set-pieces.

A solution to stop the goalkeeper “tactical timeout” is also set to be introduced.

The measures were agreed at the Premier League AGM earlier this month after consultation with the game improvement advisory board.

They form part of the “football principles” and “refereeing points of emphasis” for 2026-27.

All three red cards for hair pulling came through a video assistant referee review, and led to criticism from the managers of the players involved.

Everton‘s Michael Keane, Manchester United‘s Lisandro Martinez and Sunderland‘s Dan Ballard were all sent off for hair pulling after a VAR intervention.

United boss Michael Carrick called it “one of worst decisions I’ve seen” but lost an appeal to get the three-match ban overturned.

Stockport County defender Josh Dacres-Cogley was dismissed for the offence in the League One play-off final too.

But from next season, not every time a player is seen to pull an opponent’s hair will a red card be shown.

Instead, greater emphasis will be placed on both the level of force and the intention.

Everton boss David Moyes criticised the red card shown to Keane, claiming his player had received a ban for “absolutely nothing”.

However, the new guidance does not mean hair pulling will suddenly be tolerated.

Referees will be told to look for a “clear and deliberate action” which has “excessive force and/or brutality”.

It is likely that Keane would still be sent off – his holding and pulling the hair of Wolves‘ Tolu Arokodare deemed violent conduct.

But Ballard and Dacres-Cogley would probably be judged to be yellow-card offences – though the VAR cannot intervene for bookings.

Martinez’s red card would be considered a borderline case and open to interpretation.

The change is in intended to give more latitude to players who may accidentally hold onto an opponent’s hair.

For the third year in a row, Littler finished top of the Premier League standings.

He went on to reach the final for the third consecutive year and has won the title in two of them.

He set a new record for night wins in the league phase in 2025 and matched that tally of six in 2026.

Despite that, Littler said he felt like he did not want to “go to the next Premier League night”.

He added: “Tonight was one of those wins where I had to get it done. Even sat at home, I didn’t want to go out. I didn’t want to go to the next Premier League night but we’ve done it.

“We’ve all got feelings, not just as dart players, we’re humans. I can’t believe I’ve won.”

The current Premier League format lasts 17 weeks if you reach finals night and sees players travel across the UK, Republic of Ireland and Europe to play every Thursday during the league phase.

The event only features eight players – the world’s four top-ranked players and four players who are invited by the Professional Darts Corporation – and runs alongside ProTour events.

Sky Sports pundit Wayne Mardle highlighted how former world champions Gerwyn Price and Phil Taylor have felt a similar strain to Littler in the past.

He said: “It is not a rarity for the Premier League to become too much. Week after week, it is an endurance test.

“Sometimes you can feel down and if you feel down, you become mentally weaker.

“We know how strong Luke Littler is mentally but when you are feeling like you’re public enemy number one, you can feel like you don’t want to turn up, but he did turn up and this is now the by-product of turning up.”

Despite coming close to leaving the competition, Littler’s dominance in the sport continues to grow.

His victory means he has added the Premier League to his World Championship title, World Masters and UK Open successes this year.

Littler holds seven of the eight ranking titles that the Professional Darts Corporation have, plus the Premier League.

“There is a point in everyone’s career when they are at their peak – we don’t know if this is his peak but we know this is peak level because Michael van Gerwen and Phil Taylor’s peak was this kind of standard,” added Mardle.

“We’re assuming he must be near his peak and it is good enough time and time again. There are no weaknesses really.”

Among the next things for Littler to tick off is glory alongside Luke Humphries for England in June’s World Cup of Darts.

If the pair play anything like they did in London on Thursday night, you wouldn’t bet against them.

Frank Lampard has been named the League Managers Association manager of the year after guiding Coventry back to the Premier League.

Lampard’s Sky Blues finished 11 points clear at the top of the Championship to clinch the title and return to the top flight for the first time since the 2000-01 season.

The former England midfielder, who has previously managed Derby, Everton and had two spells in charge at Chelsea, was presented with the Sir Alex Ferguson award by England manager Thomas Tuchel.

The award, named after the former Manchester United manager, is voted for by managers throughout the leagues and takes into account success and the resources available.

Tuchel read out a letter from Ferguson, who said Lampard’s Coventry play “great football with confidence and belief”.

“I have enjoyed watching you. Best of luck in the Premier League next season,” he added.

Brentford‘s Keith Andrews, Arsenal‘s Mikel Arteta, Aston Villa‘s Unai Emery, Bournemouth‘s Andoni Iraola, Manchester City‘s Pep Guardiola, Lincoln City’s Michael Skubala and Bromley’s Andy Woodman were also shortlisted.

Manchester City‘s Andree Jeglertz won the Women’s Super League award after leading them to the title.

Arteta, who led Arsenal to their first Premier League title in 22 years, won the Premier League award while Lampard also took the Championship equivalent.

Skubala, who won League One with Lincoln, took the award for the third tier and Woodham won the League Two award after he led Bromley to the title.

The WSL2 award was taken by Karen Hills, who led Charlton to the WSL for the first time.

Steve Bruce and Martin O’Neill were inducted into the Hall of Fame after each reaching 1,000 games as a manager.

The award for Lampard is the most significant individual honour in his coaching career.

His Derby side lost in the Championship play-off final in 2019 and he was then appointed at former club Chelsea, where he spent 13 years as a player.

He was sacked after 18 months in charge in 2021 but later returned as a caretaker.

In between, he spent less than a year in charge of Everton during which he oversaw an escape from relegation but was later sacked.

This season his Coventry side were the Championship’s highest scorers with 97 goals in 46 games. They also had the best defence.

Chris Wilder, who won the award while in charge of Sheffield United in 2019, and Ipswich manager Kieran McKenna, the 2024 winner, are other recent managers to receive the LMA’s top award while managing outside of the Premier League.

As part of the audit, they are considering numerous factors to work out why it has become such a problem.

For example, Spurs are analysing the “bounce” on the club’s home pitch in comparison to that at rival grounds and their Enfield training centre.

At present, the club have found there is no major difference between the conditions of other pitches in comparison to their home ground, but testing is ongoing.

There is a view that certain knee injuries are unavoidable – Odobert for instance damaged his ACL following an awkward landing.

It is also understood Spurs are confident the on-field treatment of Simons’ injury did not result in additional damage to the Dutchman’s knee.

There has been criticism from supporters after footage showed medics allowing the attacker to put weight on his knee despite having suffered a serious injury.

One of the key improvements Lewindon has recommended is to make medical support more individually tailored – based on factors including strength, fatigue and robustness.

Medical staff will compile bespoke profiles for each player that will include personal insights as well as physical and psychological information to ensure they can deliver expert individual support to treat – but also prevent – injury.

There is also set to be greater leeway for injured players to conduct part of their rehabilitation away from the club’s training facility.

Players across the Premier League are increasingly relying on external medical practitioners to aid their fitness and recovery, while many overseas footballers even return to their homeland for treatment.

That dynamic often causes friction but moving forward Tottenham are open to letting players leave their direct care provided all parties involved agree to one shared recovery plan – though Spurs would ultimately take responsibility for any problems that arise during the process.

The medical team will work closely alongside head coach Roberto de Zerbi and his staff over the summer amid concerns changing managers three times in under 12 months has contributed to their injury problems.

Tottenham will look to introduce an integrated structure that will ensure De Zerbi, or a member of his staff, the medical department and the player are involved in deciding when a player can accelerate their rehabilitation plans.

Psychology is also a key component of the ongoing review with the club set to employ a full-time head of psychology to work with the players and staff.