WETHERSPOONS has saved an “impressive” pub from closure, but another campsite has closed its doors for good.

It comes after a Chesterfield-based pub, owned by the pub giant, was put on the market in September last year.

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However, The Spa Lane Vaults, located at St Mary’s Gate, has been taken off the market and will now remain open for good, Wetherspoons said.

Wetherspoon spokesman Eddie Gershon said: “We can confirm that The Spa Lane Vaults pub in Chesterfield is no longer for sale.

“It will continue to operate as a Wetherspoon pub. We are sure this news will be welcomed by the pub’s staff and customers.”

Reacting to the news on Facebook, one local punter said: “This is great news. I was worried I wouldn’t have anywhere to take the woman for a meal.”

Another said: “It was a bizarre decision to ever put it up for sale.”

“I hope this is true. The place is never empty,” said a third punter.

It’s not all good news for Wetherspoon fans, however.

Another cafe that was put up for sale last year has officially closed its doors for good.

The Mockbeggar Hall JD Wetherspoon on Hoylake Road in Moreton, Wirral, has now closed its doors to punters.

Wetherspoon spokesman Eddie Gershon said: “We can confirm that The Mockbeggar Hall is now closed.

“We would like to thank our employees and customers for their loyalty over the years.

“Wetherspoon occasionally closes or sells some of its pubs, and that is the case here.”

The venue is rumored to reopen in May, but what will take its place has yet to be confirmed.

However, some local punters are not surprised by this closure as many called the venue “run down”.

It comes as Wetherspoon reported a rise in sales in its half-year results, with turnover approaching £1 billion.

For the 26 weeks ending January 28, 2024, like-for-like sales rose 9.9%, while sales rose 8.2% to £991 million.

Operating profit rose 81% to £67.7m, while pre-tax profits rose 682% from £4.6m in the first half of 2023 to £36m.

Commenting on the results, Tim Martin, chairman of JD Wetherspoon plc, said: “Sales continue to improve. Over the last seven weeks to 17 March 2024, like-for-like sales increased by 5.8%. During over the past 26 weeks On January 28, 2024, like-for-like sales rose 9.9%, while sales rose 8.2% to £991 million.

“The company remains concerned about the possibility of further lockdowns and the effectiveness of the government’s investigation into the pandemic, which will not be completed for several years.

“The company currently expects a reasonable result for the financial year, depending on our future sales performance.”

A CASH-SAVVY mum has revealed how she gave her garden a major shine on the cheap.

Renovating your home – or garden – can be a shock to the wallet, especially if it’s done by professionals.

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But one money-conscious mom, Bethanne Turbutt-Rogers, recently took to TikTok to prove that this doesn’t always have to be the case — and that you can achieve amazing results for a fraction of the price.

In the videoBethanne – better known to her 160,000 fans as @budgeting mother official – told how she and her husband built a slatted fence with hardly any skills.

”When I say that me and my husband are both bad at DIY, I’m not kidding.

“So if we can do this, then you can certainly do it too,” she chuckled.

The first step of the makeover – which was supervised by her father – involved attaching long pieces of wood to the wall at the property.

The duo then used a “cheap” roof batten package purchased from Travis Perkins. Because the material is already pre-treated, it can be placed directly on the DIY fence.

“We used a small wooden block to make sure we got the same distance between all the slats, and then we just used the nail gun to fix it in place.”

According to Bethanne, who regularly shares tips and tricks to help families reduce costs, this process was “so easy.”

“I got bored after two, so I gave it back to my husband to finish.”

In total, the project took just a few hours to complete and the cost was £60 – saving the duo an estimated £1.4k if they had it done professionally by experts. according to Checkatrade.

Bethanne wrote in the caption: ”When we first moved into this house the first thing you saw when you went into the garden was this awful concrete wall so it was one of the first projects we did!

”It’s just not an option to have the fences replaced now with all the other jobs, so this was the perfect DIY solution to give the garden a lift.

”These roof battens can be picked up from Travis Perkins or B&Q, or if you have a local hardware store you can try there too!

“They are pre-treated, so no treatment is necessary and they have held up very well during the winter months.”

Dozens of fellow social media users flocked to the comments section, praising the couple and sharing their thoughts.

One said: ‘Looks good but I would have painted the back wall black or put a screen in, just cheap, it just looks a bit nicer.’

Another chimed in: ”So great to see an actual ‘budget’ transformation!

”Usually there are hundreds! This is great, well done.”

“This looks amazing!” someone else was amazed by the makeover.

“I was bored after two, I could tell,” chuckled a fourth.

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By Tita Smith for Daily Mail Australia

Published: 4:02 PM EDT, March 20, 2024 | Updated: 5:03 PM EDT, March 20, 2024

For his heroic efforts to protect Princess Anne, Jim Beaton was awarded the George Cross.

But the more lasting souvenir of his brush with death fifty years ago today – when mad gunman Ian Ball tried to kidnap the Princess Royal – is a bullet fragment embedded in his hand.

Mr Beaton, 81, was an inspector in the Metropolitan Police and served as Anne’s bodyguard for five years.

Ball ambushed Anne as she and her then-husband, Captain Mark Phillips, were driven through The Mall late at night.

Mr Beaton was shot three times by Ball after his own gun jammed, but escaped with his life when he passed former boxer Ronnie Russell and hit the gunman on the head.

Mr Beaton was speaking today to mark the 50th anniversary of the kidnap attempt the BBC how Ball “shot me in the chest” and talked about the “bullet” still lodged in his right hand.

He added: “We got about three-quarters of the way down the Mall and this white car pulled up in front of us.

“This guy Ian Ball, the driver of the white car, was coming back towards the royal car.

‘I got out of my seat and came behind the car. And he went bang bang and he shot me in the chest. I tried to shoot him back with my gun.

“I missed the first shot and then the gun jammed.”

“Ball pointed his gun at Princess Anne and said, ‘Drop your gun or I’ll shoot her,’ or something to that effect.

‘He shot at the same time as my hand went up and the bullet landed in my hand. We kicked the back door open and there was Ian Ball and he shot me in the stomach.

‘I struggled out of the car, clearly in a daze… walked around the front of the car and lay down on the pavement.’

Ball had used his Ford Escort car to stop the limousine carrying the royal couple, along with Anne’s lady-in-waiting Rowena Brassey.

Driver Alex Callender was at the wheel when the car was overtaken by Ball opposite Clarence House.

When Ball told Anne he was going to kidnap her and ordered her to get out of the car, the princess is said to have replied, “Damn probably!”

As well as wounding Mr Beaton, Ball shot Mr Callender, passing police officer Michael Hills and journalist Brian McConnell, who had been following the pair before trying to intervene.

Passing former boxer Russell, who won the George Medal for his bravery, guided the princess to safety before punching the gunman twice in the head.

When support arrived in the form of Detective Peter Edmonds, Ball was eventually arrested.

A witness, named Miss Sammy Scott, told the Daily Mail at the time: ‘I saw Princess Anne and Mark huddled in the back of the car.

“They were on the other side of the shooter. Suddenly I saw a man fall in front of me. He had been shot. He was covered in blood. He was lying on the sidewalk.

“Another man, a detective, I think, came running. I said to him, “This man has been shot, why doesn’t he go to the hospital?”

‘The detective looked at me for a moment and then said: ‘I have that too.’ He opened his jacket and I saw blood pouring from his shoulder. Then he collapsed too.’

Fortunately, everyone who was injured recovered and was able to resume their careers.

Mr Beaton was visited by Princess Anne while he was in hospital.

He said: ‘When Princess Anne came to see me in hospital it was quite funny because the staff said, “Come on, you have to put something on, cover your chest and all the wounds and things like that”.

“We were just saying, you know, glad we’re all still alive and kicking, so to speak.”

PC Hills also received the George Medal.

When Anne spoke about the ordeal with chat show host Michael Parkinson in 1984, she said she had been “scrupulously polite” to her attacker because it would have been “foolish to be too rude at that moment.”

Mr Beaton has previously highlighted how the quality of royal protection has improved dramatically since Ball’s attack on Princess Anne.

He previously said: ‘I had nothing.

“There was no backup vehicle. The training was non-existent; but yeah, we thought nothing would happen. They are now very specialized, highly trained.’

Ball pleaded guilty to attempted murder and kidnapping and remains jailed at Broadmoor Hospital under the Mental Health Act.

The apology Ball made during his police questioning was revealed after the Mail on Sunday won a seven-month freedom of information battle. They wouldn’t be released until 2048.

The would-be kidnapper told police he thought Anne would be an easy target.

He said he learned of her movements by calling the Buckingham Palace press office.

He said: ‘I had thought about it for years… She would have been the easiest. I saw her driving with her husband.’

The records also showed that Ball showed no remorse for shooting three men.

He added: “They were in my way so I had to shoot them. Well, the police, that’s their job. They expect to be shot. I took the chance to get shot, so why wouldn’t they?’

Ball planned to take the princess to a property in central London that he had rented under an alias. He would demand a ransom of £3 million.

Detectives initially feared Ball was part of the IRA, but he told officers: ‘I have no friends. I’m a loner. I’ve thought and worked on it a lot.

“I can’t expect people like you to understand or accept that I did and planned it alone. Do you think I’m part of the IRA or something? If anyone else had been there, they would have helped me on the spot.”

He also told police: ‘I knew it [Beaton] would be armed. If his gun hadn’t jammed, I’d be dead.”

MARTIN Lewis has shared a dire warning for couples who have joint finances.

The money-saving expert’s advice came after a divorcee revealed how she has saved £19,000 since her marriage ended.

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And Martin warned those who choose to combine their finances with someone else should be careful to avoid “disasters”.

Angela, who was divorced 20 years ago, says she is in financial difficulties.

However, with the help of Martin’s tips and tricks, she revealed she had saved almost £20,000 over the years.

While responding to Angela’s story, Martin warned couples who share their finances against having a “dominant financial doer” controlling every financial aspect.

He explained that it could be a disaster if the person who handles only money matters steps over the line.

Martin wrote: ‘In relationships there is usually a ‘dominant financial doer’ who controls the finances.

“There’s nothing wrong with that, but if it crosses the line of ‘I’ll just do it all so they don’t have to worry,’ it can feel generous, but it can be disastrous.”

Angela said she was in dire financial straits when her husband left, but tips from Martin’s Money Saving Expert helped her get back on track.

The brave woman revealed she used the website to budget her money, pay off her mortgage and open savings accounts.

She used the Money Saving Expert mortgage site to pay off her mortgage, which helped her become debt-free faster than she thought.

Angela revealed that thanks to Martin’s tips, she was able to save a little on insurance and roadside assistance every year – and so far she has saved a total of £18,858.95.

“I could go on. My daughter now uses the budgeting and savings system herself, so she has skills she wouldn’t have had without MSE, and I feel financially secure,” Angela wrote on the website.

When he heard Angela’s story, Martin advised that both partners should know enough about finances and money-related matters to take over the other in times of need.

He said: ‘In a shared financial relationship, both partners need to know enough to be able to take over if necessary, especially if one of the three D’s strikes (death, divorce, dementia).

“Communication & a financial fact sheet are crucial.”

Martin’s advice comes after he warned married couples to check if they are owed £1,256 in cash.

The Money Saving Expert said you can claim back hundreds of pounds in tax, but you’ll need to act quickly to get the full amount back.

Last month, the money-saving expert shared a little-known tip for couples that could save them hundreds of pounds on breakdown insurance, even as premiums soared.

This neat trick allows you to effectively receive coverage “for free” as a perk with another service.

Writing on the Money saving expert website, Martin shared a large number of hacks with which partners can improve their personal finances.

One of these was a recommendation to look at package bank accounts.

He also issued an urgent warning to households who have just weeks left to claim up to £1,000 in free cash.

The consumer champion said people can claim back some tax exemptions for up to four tax years.

This includes the marriage tax credit, the PPI and the uniform tax credit.

But the current financial year ends on April 5, meaning you’ll need to claim your tax back on or before this date if you want to reclaim tax for the 2019/20 tax year.

He said: “With some tax breaks you can claim back four tax years before the current one.

“So that means when the new tax year starts on April 6, we’ll be saying goodbye to the 2019/20 tax year.”

It comes after Martin shared the next steps motorists should take in the mounting car finance scandal and warned against ‘fob-off’ tactics from companies.

By Sharon Mai for Dailymail.Com

Published: 5:13 PM EDT, March 16, 2024 | Updated: 6:27 PM EDT, March 16, 2024

TOM LOCKYER has been reunited with the medics who helped save his life on his return to the Vitality Stadium.

Luton take on Bournemouth tonight in a replay of the match which was abandoned after the 29-year-old suffered cardiac arrest on the pitch.

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The Hatters captain had technically been dead for two minutes before medics performed CPR in December.

Lockyer showed his appreciation to those first on the scene as he greeted paramedics who rushed to him with a defibrillator.

The defender smiled as he talked and posed for photos with medics.

He is presented on the field and does a lap of honor before kick-off.

Luton manager Rob Edwards said earlier this evening: “It will be emotional to go back and relive that experience but we know we have to do it.

“Locks will meet the people who helped save his life and see their supporters, who have been incredible.

“It will be great fun for him to meet those heroes and he will receive a wonderful welcome.

“The most important thing now is that Locks is doing well and the positive side is that something good will come from this, with more awareness about CPR.”

Wales star Lockyer spent five days in hospital and now has an implantable cardioverter-defibrillator in his chest.

He may never play professional football again.

In a program interview, Lockyer said: “I can’t wait to see them in person and thank them myself.

“They disappear under the radar almost every game. You only really see them when something serious happens.

‘Then you see what incredible people they are. They provide such quick and prompt life-saving care to people who need it, so I can’t thank them enough.”

A Bournemouth supporters’ association has raised £2,000 to recruit coaches for Luton fans.

There are also plans for a minute of applause as a tribute to the doctors.

Edwards added: “They are the real heroes. It’s just football and there are more important things.”

Cherries boss Andoni Iraola is looking forward to greeting Lockyer.

He said: “I’m glad to know he’s doing well. It will be great to see him.”

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SHOPPERS have raved about a growth serum that made a huge difference to their brows.

Many have even credited hair care with giving them eyebrow hairs for the first time.

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The GrandeBROW Brow Enhancing Serum from Grande Cosmetics has more than 1,100 five-star reviews.

The $73 serum promises fuller, bolder brows in six to eight weeks.

GrandeBROW targets sparse, thinning, over-plucked or tailless brow areas, with a full bottle good for four months of daily use.

The dermatologist-tested growth elixir contains amino acids, hyaluronic acid, vitamin E, a blend of botanical extracts and glycosaminoglycans for healthier, hydrated brow hairs.

One woman called the serum a “game changer” after the effects started working.

Another noted that the serum also worked on her lashes, even though it wasn’t intended for the lash area.

“Although pricey, it definitely works! I used it on my lashes and someone told me it looked like I had lashes!” she said.

“It takes a while before you notice results, but it works!”

One eyebrow-less woman claimed the serum completely changed the game.

“I had no eyebrows and this saved my life, I’m amazed,” she said.

Another woman with thin eyebrows shared before and after photos of her dramatic results.

“I am OBSESSED with this serum. I have always loved my brow shape but they were so sparse (thanks to my genetics lol),” she said.

“This has made SUCH a big difference and I feel less insecure without makeup.”

A third reviewer was also able to put down her brow pencil after using the serum for a few weeks.

“This serum is highly recommended! My eyebrows became patchy towards the bridge of my nose,” they wrote.

“Within a few weeks I noticed a difference. I’ve been applying it once a day and now, after seven weeks, my brows are really getting fuller and I feel confident that I don’t have to use my brow pencil all the time.”

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A MONEY-SAVVY style lover has made other people jealous after revealing the designer items she found in a charity shop.

She was thrilled about the fact that she wanted to be buried in a bra designed by an Italian luxury fashion brand.

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Melanie Moradi (@moradimanor) has amassed nearly 19,000 followers on TikTok, where she shares glimpses into her life.

She looked in good spirits as she revealed the items she bought during a recent shopping trip.

“The L.A. thrift is over,” she said.

“I’m sorry to tell you, but seriously, I was born and raised in LA and after spending in New York City, I will never save in LA again.

“I went to a thrift store called Beacon’s Closet in Brooklyn and I found the craziest things.”

Melanie said she found a pair of SSense pants that originally cost $625 for $60.

She bought a three-piece set from For Love & Lemons for $50, despite the top itself previously costing $167.

She decided not to go through with buying a tinsel Edie Parker bag since the thrift store was selling it for $85 and it is $100 brand new.

The fashionista confessed that one item stood out to her among all the others as she browsed the shelves.

“This is the gem of what I found,” she said.

‘This vintage cherry bra from Dolce and Gabbana for $55.

“I’m obsessed, I’m going to be buried in this bra.

“I can’t tell you how happy I am with this find.”

The same Dolce and Gabbana bra is on sale The doll for $140.

The brand took inspiration from the vintage design for their new collection of cherry print satin bras, which cost $445.

Melanie also bought a beaded bag that didn’t have a brand tag but was vintage.

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She was amazed at the variety of affordable brands at the thrift store.

“They had really cool stuff, like Nike in good condition, for only $22,” she said.

“They had a really cool Helmut Lang shirt that was too big for me, but it was a steal because it was originally $200 and only $45.

“They had a Ganni dress and beautiful vintage panties, it was so beautiful.

“I couldn’t believe the finds.

“My girlfriend found this incredible LA bomber. Everywhere I look it’s $100 now.

“And this Helmut Lang messenger bag for just $50, and boy, it listed for $400, like what.”

Melanie also bought Nanushka slippers for $50, which were worth $320, and a vintage Victoria’s Secret slip dress for $10.

“I just loved how unique all the pieces in the thrift store were,” she said.

“It’s like I’m crazy.”

Hundreds of people liked Melanie’s video, in which she described all the items she bought in New York.

“I’m very jealous,” one person admitted.

“What great finds, OMG,” said another.

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MILLIONS of broadband and TV customers can save and reduce their bills by simply asking for a discount.

Most households are generally aware that switching to another provider can be the best way to reduce costs.

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But this usually only has benefits when your current broadband and TV contract expires.

More than 4.2 million broadband customers are currently out of contract and Uswitch is advising these customers to take action before their bills increase in April.

Switching mid-contract often means paying a hefty exit fee, which could be worth as much as £100.

So it’s usually best to wait until your current deal expires before switching to a new one.

But if you can’t wait until your contract expires or you don’t want to leave your current company, haggling on price is also a great solution.

A Sky broadband and TV customer has told how a simple adjustment to her TV package helped her cut her annual bills by £72.

Posting on the Facebook group Extreme Couponing and Bargains UK, Melisa Bailey said: “I recently redid my sky package when our contract ended, downgraded my broadband when the deal ended, and my apps now connect faster.

“But I also took the £4 Netflix offer, including ads.

“This is a £6 difference from the previous package I had.

“The adverts appear very rarely, and I’m glad I can save the £72 a year as it’s a week’s worth of free groceries!”

By quitting and switching to a service that isn’t necessarily needed, Melisa has managed to lower her bill with a simple phone call.

Alex Tofts, broadband expert at Broadband Genie, says: “The starting point for saving money is to look at what you pay for and what you actually need.

“Most people shouldn’t pay for multiple streaming services at the same time, as it’s unlikely you’ll need them all at once.

“You can save big by subscribing one by one and binge-watching a series or the films on offer and then canceling once you’ve had enough.

“While ads aren’t for everyone, ad-supported subscriptions from the likes of Netflix and Disney+ can significantly reduce your monthly expenses.”

Disney+ customers can switch from the regular ‘Standard’ package of £7.99 per month to the ‘Standard with Ads’ package for £1.99 per month for the first three months, and then up to £4.99 per month month after the discount period.

The same goes for Netflix ‘standard’ customers, who can choose to pay £10.99 per month without add-ons or £4.99 per month for an add-supporter service.

Alex added: “On average, most platforms only show around four minutes of ads per hour, so you might not find them too disruptive.”

If you want to save on other parts of your bill and stick with your current telecom provider, we’ve provided some negotiating tips for you to follow below.

How do I negotiate with my provider?

If you want to stay with your current provider – or if early termination penalties mean it’s not worth switching – haggling down your bill is easy and shouldn’t affect your current contract.

Call the telecom company and tell them you are not happy with the price.

You can say that you found a better price elsewhere or that as a loyal customer you want to know if you can get a better deal.

The worst they can say is no, and you’re no worse off. You then know it’s time to shop around for a cheaper deal.

The first thing you need to do is find out what the cheapest deal is on the market.

You can use this rate as a negotiating tool to get a better offer from your provider.

To do this, visit comparison sites such as Uswitch or Comparethemarket and find the best deals on the market.

Contact your provider to see if they can offer better rates. If not, you might want to switch.

About 11 million broadband and 36 million mobile customers will face an inflation-related price increase in April.

The average telecoms customer will see their broadband prices increase by £27.19 per year and their mobile bills by £24.23 per year.

But the exact amount your bills will increase depends on your supplier and the current contracted bill amount.

We’ve got all the tips and tricks you need to follow to beat the price hike.