A radio station playing non-stop Christmas bangers has launched in the UK, giving everyone an excuse to get into the festive spirit extra early this year.
Yes, that’s right – a radio station dedicated entirely to Christmas songs.
We know, we know, Halloween hasn’t even happened yet – but some folks just can’t wait to get stuck into Christmas this year, and who can blame them?
Considering what a flop Christmas 2020 was, if people want to get into the full spirit extra early this year then that's fine by us.
The Heart Xmas radio channel has now gone live for 2021 / Image: Wham / Vevo
If you’re the type that’s got Mariah blasting in September, then you should be absolutely made up to hear that a festive radio station playing non-stop Christmas music has launched in the UK this week.
Launched by Heart, the radio giant’s annual Heart Xmas radio channel has now gone live for 2021, and it’ll be playing festive feel-good tracks 24/7 from now until 27 December.
Soundtracking your Christmas right up until after Santa’s visit, listeners can expect to hear heaps of Mariah and Wham!, The Pogues, and more from the festive radio station throughout the next couple of months.
For a seasonal pick me up, tune in, and be reassured that there’s nothing better than a bit of crooning Bing Crosby of Frank Sinatra to lift your spirits. Trust us, their dulcet tones will certainly get you in the mood for some mulled wine and pigs in blankets.
We fully expect to see Christmas trees popping up in windows well before the start of December, as Brits seek to make up for that Christmas that wasn’t last year – and for those looking to get into the spirit early, this radio channel will do all your festive soundtracking for you.
To get involved, all you need to do is tune into the Heart Xmas radio channel via DAB radio, Global Player, or via the Heart website.
It’s the best time of year, so we might as well get stuck in early – it’ll do you some good.
Feature Image – Mariah Carey / Vevo
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‘Ugly, run-down’ and ‘untidy’ – Leeds named UK’s tenth best big city
Britain's 20 biggest cities have been ranked, and Leeds has done pretty well.
Although, you wouldn't be able to tell judging by the overwhelmingly lacklustre description we've been given.
The listing comes from The Telegraph and ranks Britain's 20 biggest cities from worst to best, taking into account visitor appeal and where offers most to tourists.
Leeds comes in at a very respectable number 10, however judging from what they've said about our city you'd think we were much, much lower.
Kicking things off, the description reads: "There’s an untidy quality to Leeds, borne of a patchwork of periods in its built environment and the fact that a lot of regeneration is underway (cranes rise at every corner)."
Image: Unsplash
Yep, not off to a good start but it's only down hill from there as Leeds is then said to have a 'certain shapelessness'.
But perhaps the worst part is yet to come: "There are some ugly, run-down streets very close to the centre, and while the Headrow and other high streets have a fair number of shops, there’s no real boulevard or grand square.
"The most atmospheric spaces are Queens Arcade and perpendicular Cross Arcade, and Thornton’s Arcade; Grand Arcade is also Victorian but looks and feels less uplifting."
By the end it starts to get slightly more positive, emphases on 'slightly': "Leeds’ strongest points might be its small size and its north-central location; it’s easy to walk everywhere inside the city, and a short ride away are Ilkley, Skipton and the Dales."
Our visitor appeal gained a 6.5/10, beating Cardiff, Sheffield, Brighton and Nottingham.
Taking the top spot was Liverpool followed by Edinburgh, Belfast and Glasgow. Read the full ranking here.
The Boots recycling scheme where you can get £5 off every shop
Thomas Melia
UK high street retailer and healthcare shop Boots has launched an innovative recycling scheme that entitles customers to £5 off their future shopping trips.
If you're still struggling to come up with a New Year's resolution, why not try a spot of recycling and earn some money off your next cosmetics shop while you're at it?
Started in 2020, the Boots Recycling Scheme allows Advantage Card holders the opportunity to get money while also being more conscious about how we recycle our used health and beauty products.
Their third party app Recycle at Boots uses a Scan2Recycle system where users can upload items from various beauty brands by taking a picture of the empty packaging before identifying its form.
This scheme takes items that can't usually be recycled at home such as lotion pumps, toothpaste tubes, lipstick, mascaras, travel minis, make-up palettes and more.
Images: Publicity pictures (supplied)
Once you have five items approved, head over to your nearest participating Boots store, drop off your empties and scan the QR code on the deposit box.
After you've followed all these steps, a voucher will appear entitling you to 500 Advantage Points when you spend £10 in-store, and not only do you have £5 worth of points with your name on it, you're also an eco-warrior.
There's even a dedicated section of the app to recycling empty medicine and vitamin blister packs which gives customers 100 Advantage Points, when you spend £5 in-store - This is brill.
Items dropped into these deposit boxes are taken to MyGroup, a recycling and waste management service which works around the clock to help divert waste from landfill.
These empties will be washed and traditionally recycled into a material called MyBoard, a construction board material most similar to plywood with lots of different uses.
Nearest Boots locations in Manchester running the Recycle at Boots scheme:
Leeds Trinity - 1 Bond Street, LS1 5EY
Leeds Kirkstall - Savins Mill Way, LS5 3RP
White Rose Shopping Centre - Lower Level, Leeds, LS11 8LL
Thorpe Park - Unit 3 The Springs, LS15 8GG
Birstall Retail Park - Batley, West Yorkshire, WF7417 9DT
If you're up for getting money off your next Boots splurge while also helping recycle cosmetics containers and more, you can download the Recycle at Boots app and find your nearest HERE.
Georgina Pellant -
22nd October 2021 
