Eloise Feilden

Already a top destination for free-to-view art, soon Gateshead’s Baltic Centre for Contemporary Art will get an exciting upgrade. The northeastern art hub is planning an extension that will feature a leafy elevated garden with views towards the Newcastle skyline.  Known as the Baltic Gardens, the new green space will be built on brownfield land and designed by Newcastle-based architects MawsonKerr. Sitting at first floor level, it will be on top of the gallery’s energy centre and stretch across to the main building. The space will be home to native plantings and offer a range of community-focused programmes and hireable areas, while the project will also improve accessibility.  The Baltic Centre for Contemporary Art, for those not in-the-know, is an art gallery in Gateshead that occupies a former industrial flour mill. The mill was operational until the early 1980s, and the BCCA opened on the site in 2002. The venue, which features four floors of art, two viewing decks, a cafe, shop, library, sensory room and rooftop restaurant, has previously hosted award ceremonies for the Stirling Prize (in 2002) and the Turner Prize (2011).  Image: Baltic Centre for Contemporary Art   Baltic Director Sarah Munro commented on the plans: ‘To be able to pause for breath, observe wildlife, enhance accessible entrances to the building and create a serene and inviting elevated outdoor green space at Baltic that looks down the River Tyne, will be game-changing. ‘Our building has remained unch

London is home to some of the greatest nightclubs on the planet: Time Out’s list of the capital’s top clubs sprawls from techno meccas and house havens to DIY staples. It’s no wonder, therefore, that several of the city’s most legendary clubbing establishments feature on a new ranking of the greatest dancefloors in the world right now. Each year, the International Nightlife Association publishes its ranking of The World’s 100 Best Clubs. Revealed on November 19, the 2025 list was decided via public voting – with a record-breaking 512,086 votes registered in the list this year. London’s place among the world’s best club hubs remains strong, with four of the top 100 venues chosen by the International Nightlife Association residing in our fair city. So, which venues made the official list? Fabric  The Farringdon megaclub was the highest-ranking of any UK venue, coming in at number 24 on the global list. Almost a decade after the venue was threatened with permanent closure, Fabric is now in its 27th year and remains an icon of London nightlife. Ministry of Sound Next up was one of London’s longest-running clubs: Ministry of Sound. Laid out across four dancefloors, Ministry of Sound continues to blend Ibiza energy and signature London cool at Elephant & Castle. Ministry, which opened in 1991 in a former bus depot, placed 28th overall in the International Nightlife Association’s list. Studio 338 A thumping baseline and flashing strobe may not be the first thing you think of when yo

If you’re heading to the US sometime soon, you could be asked to share your social media history from the past five years.  The UK is among dozens of countries which could face new conditions from US border forces as the States gears up for an influx of foreign tourists. In 2026 the country will host (alongside Canada and Mexico) the men's football World Cup, while 2028 will see Los Angeles host the Olympic Games. Worried that you might have to give up your social media privacy next time you visit the US? Here’s what you need to know about proposed new border rules.  Which countries could have to share social media at the US Border? The new proposal could impact people from 42 countries who can currently visit the US for 90 days without a visa – so long as they have filled out an Electronic System for Travel Authorisation (ESTA) form. This includes travellers from the UK, as well as Germany, Qatar, Greece, Malta, New Zealand, Australia, Japan, Israel and South Korea. What’s the new policy? A document filed on Friday (12 December) by the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and its Customs and Border Protection (CBP) agency proposed new conditions for travellers entering the US.  The new proposal, if approved, will mean that travellers coming to the US are forced to provide significantly more information than before. Currently, required ESTA information includes parents’ names, current email address and details of any past criminal record. ESTAs are submitted at least 72 hour

Calling all fry fanatics! Frites Atelier has brought its cult Dutch fries to London.  If you’ve spent time in Belgium or the Netherlands, you may well have heard of Frites Atelier. The chip shop is famed for applying Michelin-starred cooking to the humble potato at its outposts in Antwerp, Brussels, Ghent and Roosendaal. Now, the elevated chippy is bringing its cult concept to Soho. The new site opened in the old Balans Soho site on Old Compton Street on Saturday (December 13). Dutch chef Sergio Herman is the brains behind the fine-dining-meets-fast-food concept. Having received the ultimate culinary accolade – the coveted three Michelin stars – in 2006 for his family establishment Oud Sluis, Herman turned his attention to the potato in 2016. His aim? To turn the simple tatty into a luxury gastronomic experience. London is the first British location to be graced with Frites Atelier’s glorious golden batons. Everything at Frites Atelier is made in-house, with the key ingredient supplied by international potato masters Lamb Weston. The signature frites dish is a Dutch staple – featuring thin and ultra-crispy chips with a soft, cloud-like interior, and always served with a sauce. Four signature ‘frites specials’ also feature on the Soho menu - Flemish beef stew, parmesan and basil, sea nori, and cheddar supreme. Photograph: Edward Howell Photography The mayo or ketchup debate can be put to one side when visiting Frites Atelier, as the menu boasts a selection of sauces includin