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THE owner of a newly-opened restaurant has suddenly shut up shop after going on a rant about ‘unreliable staff’. 

Otterburns opened in Sandymoor, Runcorn, last March after months of planning and construction.

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Otterburns opened in March last year and pitched itself as an all-in-one dining house[/caption]

The restaurant offered breakfast, lunch and dinner as well as boasting a coffee house and bar. 

A full drinks menu was also available, with coffee being served in the day, transitioning to a luxury and premium wine and cocktail menu in the evening.

However, owner David Watson has since decided to temporarily close, blaming staffing and ‘ too critical’ customers. 

In a statement on the restaurant’s Facebook page, Dave revealed that “various problems have plagued us”, leading to him looking for a new owner.

The statement reads: “Historically, a professional general manager has been extremely difficult to find, with unreliable staff constantly adding to the daily operational issues.

“We’ve had a chef consultant, been through seven chefs, five general managers, eight supervisors and goodness knows how many servers – maybe that’s a testament to how difficult it is to run a hospitality business post COVID, or maybe just a comment about generational differences in attitude to real work?”

The owner also blamed ‘critiquing’ customers, writing: “You’ve critiqued us hard and if I’m honest, sometimes too hard, and the online ‘bashing’ has blown our minds.

“You’ve been a tough and fairly unique crowd to please, often rightfully so but sometimes not – grown adults making young servers cry is never acceptable.”

Dave said because of the staffing issues and the ongoing criticism, the restaurant has struggled to keep up with service levels, leading to Otterburns’ reputation suffering.

Over the last year, the restaurant has tried to keep up with the community’s demands, offering live music every month, drink and food offers, Sky Sports and party events. 

As Dave said: “We’ve tried, tirelessly, to meet your expectations.”

But, he added, he doesn’t feel the restaurant has the “support of the community” anymore to continue to keep going. 

He said: “I know from speaking to various regular customers that we got it right an awful lot of the time and I know that the set-up is right for any new owner to come in with a fresh broom and a clear head to make it work.”

Dave has said that when the business eventually gets a new owner and it reopens, he hopes the community will give the new owner ‘a chance and a revisit’.

Ending the announcement with a plea, he said: “Understand that, even your simple coffees/breakfasts take a great deal of effort and planning to get to your table.

“Understand that the UK Government make it extremely hard for businesses, suppliers make it hard, the local council make it hard, but the new owners will be doing it just for your enjoyment.

“Please be kind.”

WITH spring almost here, there’s plenty to look forward to — longer days, warmer temperatures, and, of course, the return of gardening season.  

And March may feel like it can’t come soon enough for those eager to get their hands back in the soil.

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February is the perfect time for gardening three vegetables[/caption]

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Spinach can withstand lower temperatures in February[/caption]

So people may be happy to hear that February is actually the perfect time to kickstart your growing season with three specific vegetables.  

John Collins, nursery manager at Ashridge, says: “These hardy crops can withstand cooler temperatures, making them ideal for early sowing.

“Getting them in the ground now gives you an earlier harvest and helps spread out the workload in the garden.”

First up, John reveals that broad beans are one of the best vegetables to plant in February, as their robust nature allows them to thrive in cooler temperatures.

He adds: “Sowing these national favourites now can lead to an earlier harvest, often by late spring or early summer. 

“Soaking the seeds overnight is a good way to encourage germination, and planting them in a sunny spot with well-drained soil will help them develop.”

The gardening pro recommends planting them about 20cm apart and leaving 60cm between each double row, to allow air circulation and easy access to the crops.  

“As the plants grow, staking or installing nets can provide them with extra support and prevent them from toppling over”, he adds.

“Another great tip is pinching out their tips when they reach about one metre in height, as this will encourage bushier growth and deter pests like aphids.”

Early peas are another excellent choice for February, with varieties such as ‘Kelvedon Wonder’ or ‘Meteor’ being particularly suited to cooler temperatures.   

Planting them now means that you’ll be able to enjoy sweet peas by late spring, bringing a taste of early summer to your dishes.  

Unlike broad beans, early peas should be planted on a sheltered site.

They also don’t require as much space and can be sown 5cm apart, with rows spaced at 60cm intervals. 

You should, however, consider providing them support with sticks or netting, as this will help them climb and grow even more.  

John says: “A great way to ensure your early peas survive and develop is to plant them indoors in biodegradable pots and transplant them later once they’ve grown.

“This will drastically reduce damage from pests like mice and birds.”

Rounding off your February vegetable patch, you should consider spinach.

This veg grows quickly, and hardier varieties such as ‘Perpetual Spinach’ can withstand lower temperatures, allowing gardeners to enjoy fresh greens in early spring.   

John recommends picking a sunny or partially shaded area with rich, moisture-retentive soil, and planting the seeds 30cm apart to give them room to mature.

Another possibility is sowing the seeds in containers for easier management—this can also help if you don’t have as much space. 

But make sure you water your crops regularly to prevent bolting, applying mulch to retain soil moisture. 

“Spinach is a vegetable that keeps on giving”, John says.

“It’s extremely rich in nutrients, and you can prolong the cropping period by harvesting its leaves regularly, always cutting the outer leaves first.

“This encourages new growth, allowing you to enjoy fresh veggies in your meals for longer.” 

ANTONY stunned Manchester United fans with his celebration after scoring for Real Betis at the weekend.

The 24-year-old joined Betis on loan until the end of the 2024-25 season last month after a poor spell with United.

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Antony’s celebration after scoring left fans mind-blown[/caption]

In 14 appearances for the Red Devils this term, Antony scored just one goal and quickly fell out of favour with new manager Ruben Amorim.

But since moving to Spain, the Brazilian has enjoyed a complete resurgence.

In four outings for Real Betis, Antony has managed the same number of goal contributions.

His latest strike came against Real Sociedad on Sunday.

The winger scored a left-footed volley just under 20 yards out from goal, firing the ball into the bottom-left corner.

But it was his celebration that caught the attention of some fans.

Running towards the corner flag, Antony cartwheeled into a backflip.

Man Utd fans took to social media to react, with one person writing: “We didn’t even know that Antony could do backflip!”

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Another joked: “It’s amazing what happens once you leave United.”

A third said: “Do you know how surprised I am rn .”

While another simply wrote: “Antony can do backflips?”

Meanwhile, Man Utd currently sit 15th in the Premier League table with just 27 points from 25 games.

A MAJOR A-road used by thousands of drivers every day has been hit with 12 months worth of closures – sparking travel chaos for commuters.

Significant diversions will extend along the A52 Derby Road in Nottingham.

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Priory Island, on the border of Wollaton and Lenton Abbey, to the Queen‘s Medical Centre island, makes up the affected area – National Highways has announced.

It covers 1.4 miles of road which runs along Wollaton Park.

The 12-month issue of roadworks starts this spring.

A new cycleway and footpath is also set to be created by engineers to allow access from the park to the University of Nottingham.

Plus, improvements to pedestrian lighting-controlled crossings on the popular stretch are in the making.

Along with a new 24/7 one-way system between the two roundabouts to manage traffic.

However, the westbound carriageway is set to close for a whopping four months.

Followed by the eastbound carriageway for a further two months.

Traffic will be diverted from Priory roundabout next to Woodside Road and the University of Boulevard to re-join the A52 at Dunkirk Island.

The works are meant to improve congestion on the A52, engineers say.

As the area currently experiences significant capacity issues at many junctions resulting in queuing and delays.

The agency’s project manager, Sue Chambers said: “This scheme is designed to provide a new modern road that will improve the experience of the road users, cyclists and walkers who use it.

“The work will take around 12 months to complete but by doing all the work together we will reduce long-term disruption to road users, stakeholders and local residents.”

Drainage systems are also set to be improved.

Work will mainly be carried out during the day but traffic management will take place across eight phases.

However, some activities may take place overnight, National Highways warns.

The work will initially take place with ongoing bridge repairs at QMC Roundabout, which has already caused disruption for drivers.

And caused buses to divert.

But the QMC bridge repairs should finish this summer.

Improvements to Nottingham Knight and Wheatcroft junctions, to the south of the country will begin later in the year.

EMMERDALE’S Joe Tate finds himself in serious danger next week as his health takes a terrifying turn for the worse – while being held captive in a barn by Ross Barton.

Emmerdale’s Ross is out for revenge, but as Joe’s mystery condition rapidly worsens, could he have made a deadly mistake?

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Ross grabbed Joe and locked him up in an empty barn[/caption]

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Noah has another flashback… will this one reveal the truth about the night he was spiked?[/caption]

With Noah’s drugging still a mystery – after he was found staggering in the road last week – he struggles to remember what happened.

Meanwhile, Kim checks her surveillance on Joe, but her focus is disrupted when a visitor arrives, voicing their suspicions about him.

Kim remains adamant that Joe is innocent, but a seed of doubt is planted.

Determined to uncover the truth, Kim lures Joe into a false sense of security before confiding in Lydia, tasking her with spying on him.

While Lydia is left bemused, Kim makes it clear she won’t rest until she uncovers Joe’s secret – unaware that one of his biggest secrets is standing right in front of her in the form of Dawn.

Elsewhere, Noah has a flashback to the night of the limo crash that could change everything.

Meanwhile, Joe suffers a dizzy spell, leaving him vulnerable to Ross, who seizes the opportunity to grab and threaten him.

Dragging Joe to a remote barn, Ross keeps him trapped, and as time passes, Joe’s condition worsens.

With Joe locked up and no one aware of his whereabouts, will help arrive in time – or is Ross about to go from kidnapper to killer?

Elsewhere in the Dales, a crisis meeting is held among the co-conspirators over Anthony’s death.

Tensions rise when they learn of Caleb’s attempt to frame Cain for the crime.

As the group argues, one of them suggests going to the police, sparking fear that it could unravel everything they’ve worked to cover up.

Meanwhile, Steph remains resolute in uncovering the truth about what her parents are hiding.

Emmerdale airs weeknights at 7:30pm or stream from 7am on ITVX.

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Is Kim about to find out that Joe and Dawn are having an affair?[/caption]

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Steph is determined to find out what her parents are hiding[/caption]

THIS is the first picture of the man charged over an attack on an asylum seeker who later died in hospital.

Accused Jeffrey Bangu, 21, was remanded in custody after being hit with four charges following the death of Quham Babatunde in Dublin city centre last weekend.

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Mr Babatunde, 34, died after he was stabbed a number of times in the early hours of last Saturday morning while a second man also was seriously injured.

Two other suspects remain in PSNI and garda custody being questioned.

Mr Bangu, of Cardy Rock Crescent, Balbriggan, Dublin, was before Dublin District Court on Tuesday morning charged with assault causing harm on Mr Babatunde.

He also faces raps for assaulting another man, named on the charge sheet as Adetola Adetuilehim, also causing him harm.

The final two charges are violent disorder offences, producing a knife in the course of a fight and using or threatening to use violence.

The offences are contrary to the Non-Fatal Offences against the Person Act, the Firearms and Offensive Weapons Act and the Criminal Justice Public Order Act.

They are alleged to have been carried out on South Anne Street and Duke Lane in Dublin 2 in the early hours of Saturday morning.

Garda David Dolan of Pearse Street Garda station took to the stand and gave evidence of arrest, charge and caution.

Gda Dolan said Mr Bangu was arrested for the purpose of charge on Monday night after 11.30pm.

‘USUAL MANNER’

Mr Bangu was cautioned in the “usual manner” and made no reply to the four charges.

The garda told Judge Paula Murphy that there would be “strenuous” objections to bail.

However defence barrister Kyle Talbot told the court that there would be no such application made on this occasion.

The judge said if there is one being made, the State would need at least 48 hours notice.

The accused was granted legal aid after the judge was told he is unemployed.

Mr Bangu was remanded in custody until February 25, when he will appear via video link for directions from the Director of Public Prosecutions.

Mr Bangu, in a dark grey tracksuit and black runners, stood for the short hearing but did not address it.

Two other suspects remain in custody, one up north and another at Pearse Street Garda Station in Dublin.

Detectives in Belfast were granted a 36-hour extension quizzing a 23-year-old suspect on Tuesday morning.

INVESTIGATIONS ONGOING

The man was lifted by cops as he attempted to board a ferry from Belfast bound for Liverpool on Monday.

The PSNI – who are now lead investigators with that suspect – were given the green light to hold him after Lisburn Magistrates Court heard a post-mortem was carried out, CCTV had been seized and other devices.

Mr Babatunde died in St James’ Hospital after being rushed there following the incident.

He was an asylum seeker originally from Nigeria who had no other family here. It is understood that he had been in Ireland for a number of years.

He had been living in Ballyogan IPAS accommodation centre, south of Dublin city, and had been among its first residents accommodated there.

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GEORDIE Shore star Abbie Holborn’s secret boyfriend has been revealed – and he is a familiar reality TV face.

The MTV reality star, 27, is in the throes of a new romance with a former The Only Way Is Essex star after being introduced by their closest pals.

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Geordie Shore’s Abbie Holborn has found love again with a former TOWIE star[/caption]

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Abbie is in the throes of a new romance with Jack Rigden[/caption]

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Pals have said that Abbie is happier than ever with Jack[/caption]

Abbie has been romancing Jack Rigden who appeared on the ITVBe reality show for 23 episodes back in 2017.

Whilst the pair have kept the romance under wraps in recent weeks, sources have told The Sun that Abbie is happier than ever after a string of failed flings.

The insider revealed: “Abbie and Jack have been seeing each other for a little while now after first starting off as friends.

“Things have been going really well between them and Abbie has been unable to wipe the smile off her face when talking to her pals about him.

“It is still very much early days but for the first time in a while, Abbie can really see a future with someone and she knows she can rely on Jack.

“It helps that Jack is the best mate of her closest pal Sophie Kasaei’s boyfriend Jordan and so everyone around her is over the moon at the new romance.

“Abbie is feeling happier than ever and finally feels settled in her love life after years of holiday flings and failed situationships.”

Abbie met 32-year-old Jack through Sophie and Jordan and is understood to be besotted with him.

The pair spent a cosy Valentine’s Day together proving their romance is the real deal.

The Sun has contacted a spokesperson for Abbie Holborn for comment.

The reveal of her mystery man comes one month after she opened up to The Sun about her secret romance but refused to reveal his famous identity.

Abbie told us in January: “I am seeing someone. Yeah, it’s going really well.”

Brunette beauty Abbie then confessed she was close to a “nervous breakdown” over her struggling love life.

She revealed: “Every series [of Geordie Shore] I have a bit of a nervous break down because I am still single, it happens every series. 

“Last series I was like I am just going to be single forever. Nothing is working!”

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Whilst it is early days, Abbie has been spending all her spare time with Jack[/caption]

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Jack (right) starred on TOWIE with best pal Jordan Brook (left) who is dating Abbie’s best friend, Sophie Kasaei[/caption]

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