Everyone's favourite Portuguese-inspired chicken restaurant, Nando's, are the latest to launch it's very own line of merchandise.
Following in the footsteps of a growing number of businesses – the most-notable being the hugely-popular collaboration between Greggs and Primark, with hoodies, bucket hats, croc-style shoes, and more – Nando's have dropped a new merchandise clothing line, reports The Manc.
And it isn't just your average clothing, in a clever nod to the spicy food it serves up, the clothing changes colour based on heat levels. Cool right? Or maybe hot..
The new five-piece Extra Hot Drop is streetwear-inspired, and it went on sale on 31 August 2022.
Image: Nando's
The capsule collection is a limited-edition line of heat-reactive clothing and accessories for those looking to “spice up their style this summer”.
Created using thermochromic technology, Nando’s says each garment has been designed to uniquely change colour as its wearer ramps up the heat, which allows PERi-PERi fans to show off their love for all things hot (or lemon and herb) in a range of t-shirts, jumpers, bucket hats, and socks.
Image: Nando's
A play on the iconic Nando’s PERi-ometer heat chart, the Extra Hot Drop taps into the 90s nostalgia of hypercolour fashion, which is set to challenge fans to bring the spice to their wardrobes by testing out the clothing’s colour morphing properties.
“Nando’s is nothing without heat,” the restaurant chain said.
“Whether you’re enjoying Extra Hot PERi-PERi chicken, or dancing in a festival crowd, each piece in the collection will reveal a distinct new colourway as the temperature changes.”
Image: Nando's
Nando’s even rounded-up a handful of TikTok and YouTube stars to feature in a “PERi-PERi hot shoot” to mark the launch of the new collection.
Viral music artist Niko B, comedian Jack Joseph, The Sidemen’s Tobi (aka TBJZL), model Madeline Argy, and radio presenter Tara Kumar have all “turned up the heat in their own unique style” to model for the collection’s launch.
The unisex range of five items is available in five different heat levels – Plainish, Lemon & Herb, Medium, Hot, and Extra Ho – comes in five colourways, and prices start from £15.
1,500 miles of roadworks have now been lifted across the UK.
With half term well underway already, and now millions of drivers set to hit the road over the next five days as Easter bank holiday weekend arrives, giving Brits two extra days off, National Highways has now confirmed that, as of today (Thursday 2 April), around 1,500 miles of roadworks have been lifted nationwide.
Roads are expected to be ‘especially’ busy tomorrow in particular (Good Friday), National Highways predicts, as this is the day people are most likely to head on a spring getaway.
So, in a bid to help ease congestion for drivers up and down the motorways, roadworks have been removed up until Bank Holiday Monday (6 April).
“By keeping 98% of routes clear, we’re supporting the wider economy where it matters most to tourism, freight, and local businesses,” National Highways said in a statement.
1,500 miles of roadworks have been lifted to help ease congestion for drivers this bank holiday weekend / Credit: pxfuel
The decision to lift the roadworks comes as a new national survey revealed a total of 71,254 breakdowns were recorded in spring (March–May) last year, compared with 56,702 in 2022.
It also showed that more than one in two (53%) UK drivers have broken down on a motorway or major A-road in their lifetime, highlighting how common the experience is for both drivers and passengers, and why it’s important to take relevant safety precautions from all sides.
29% of drivers think their breakdown could have been prevented with simple vehicle safety checks, but 17% admit to rarely or never conducting these.
National Highways echoes the statement that most of these incidents could be avoided through ‘quick and basic’ checks, and is urging drivers heading away this bank holiday weekend to familiarise themselves with how to do these before hitting the roads, so they can reach their destinations safely, saving costs and reducing delays for all road users in the process.
“Millions of people will be hitting the roads over Easter, and we want everyone to have a safe and smooth journey,” commented Colin Stevenson, who is the Road Safety Information Lead at National Highways.
“A few simple checks can help to prevent many of the breakdowns we see each year and help drivers avoid unexpected delays, cost and stress.
“Our teams work around the clock to keep motorways and major A-roads moving and these small steps from drivers can make a big difference.”
Millions of UK workers to receive pay rises from today as National Living and Minimum Wage increases
Emily Sergeant
Millions of workers across the UK are set to begin receiving substantial pay rises from today.
After the Government announced back in November that it would take the recommendations made by the Low Pay Commission, and increase both the National Minimum Wage and National Living Wage, those changes have now come into force in a bid to ensure people on lower incomes are ‘properly rewarded’ for their work.
If you’re unfamiliar with the Low Pay Commission, it’s an independent body made up of employers, trade unions, and experts whose role is to advise the Government on the minimum wage.
As mentioned, the rate recommendations introduced today were agreed unanimously by the Commission.
Millions of workers in the UK are getting pay rises from today / Credit: John Kakuk (via Unsplash) | Pexels
This means that the living wage, for eligible workers who are aged 21 and over, has now risen by 4.1% from today to £12.71 an hour.
For a full-time worker, that means a pay increase of £900 a year.
The National Minimum Wage rate for workers aged 18 to 20-year-olds has also increased today by 8.5% to £10.85 an hour, and then for 16 to 17-year-olds, and those on apprenticeships, the rate has increased by 6% to £8 an hour.
“The recommendations we made last autumn sought to balance the need to protect the economy and labour market, whilst providing a real-terms increase for the lowest-paid members of society,” commented Baroness Philippa Stroud, who is Chair of the Low Pay Commission.
“A lot has changed since we gave our advice to the Government last autumn, and we are now beginning to gather evidence for recommendations later this year.
“The current economic uncertainty makes it essential that the Commission hears from those affected by the minimum wage and builds consensus for evidence-based recommendations.
Workers aged 21 and over are now legally entitled to the National Living Wage after the age threshold for the highest rate was lowered from 23 in 2024.
National Minimum Wage rates are available to workers aged 16 upwards.
The Hoot -
1st September 2022 
