The Woods at the top of Park Street is closed, with windows boarded up on Wednesday, April 30(Image: Paul Gillis/Reach Plc)Bristol is new stranger to comings and goings on the food and drink scene And so we at BristolLive have decided to shine a regular spotlight - and wave a final farewell - to the foodie spots and others that have closed their doors for the last time over the past month This month has seen much heartbreak from locals who have lost some of their favourite haunts for a bite to eat In amongst the list for April is a seafront cafe, a beloved Bristol bar a pizzeria and some of Bristolians' favourite restaurants Which of this are you going to miss most - and which would you campaign to bring back immediately The Bay at Weston-super-Mare is closing soon to make way for the new Tropicana.(Image: Phoebe Hobbs)Article continues belowAddress: Marine Parade BristolLive reported that The Bay Cafe in Weston-super-Mare had written a farewell letter which it displayed in its window on April 15 The Bay, which was located on Weston-super-Mare's famous seafront announced it would be closing to make way for the newly-renovated Tropicana events venue Work on The Tropicana, which has received £8.7 million from the government's levelling up fund, is set to finish by March 2026 It is hoped that the 5,000 seater venue will put the town back on the map In early 2022, The Food Hub (Passion and Soul Food) was selected by North Somerset Council to operate The Bay Café as a concession in preparation for the exciting SEEMonster installation at the Tropicana It had originally been planned as a six month venture, but was extended to three years in the end. Read the full story here Dough Heads(Image: Google Maps)‌Address: 86 Whitehall Road On April 19, BristolLive reported how devastated locals were of the announcement that Dough Heads on Whitehall Road would be closing According to the official Dough Heads website the independent pizzeria - which serves up Neapolitan-style pizzas using its own four-day ferment dough - will be closing in June with its last trading day falling on Friday the team said: "Espensen Spirit our landlords and friends are selling 86 Whitehall Road this year to move into a new space and we have made the difficult decision not to move on to a new premises of our own "For the past five years, we've had an amazing time serving up pizza and cocktails to the brilliant people of Easton But as is the case with many small businesses at the moment rising costs and an uncertain financial future for the hospitality industry have applied many pressures over the years."We're proud to have survived the lockdowns and the difficult years afterwards and we truly have our customers and incredible staff to thank for this." Read the full story here The Turtle Bay restaurant in Cheltenham Road closed in April 2025(Image: Google)Address: 221-223 Cheltenham Road On April 5, BristolLive reported the sudden closure of a Turtle Bay restaurant in Bristol whose headquarters are reportedly in Bristol The website said: “Turtle Bay Cheltenham Road has served up its last round of jerk chicken and rum cocktails “You can still find us bringing the island spirit in our other Turtle Bay restaurant in Bristol Broad Quay.” Four Wise Monkeys on Clare Street(Image: Four Wise Monkeys)Address: 30 Clare Street On April 15, BristolLive reported that an Asian 'super diner' in Bristol's Old City would be closing its doors for good that very same night The team behind Four Wise Monkeys, which is one of several venues from the Bristol-based Hyde and Co Group will be starting a new chapter as it moves out of number 30 Clare Street told BristolLive that they weren't able to "meet the landlords demands for a rent increase of 25 per cent" and so found a buyer for the building It's not the end for the popular food spot though as Nathan said fans will still be able to get their hands on some of the delicious dishes on the menu online before it moves to a new physical location Read the full story here The Woods at the top of Park Street is closed April 30(Image: Paul Gillis/Reach Plc)‌Address: 1 Park Street Avenue At the end of April (April 30), BristolLive reported the shock closure of a beloved Bristol bar described as a 'Bristol institution and a mecca for whisky lovers' The owners put the reason behind the closure down to its landlord which was located at the top of Park Street It said: "Due to the landlord aggressive stance and the serving of a demand for Covid rent arrears it has pushed business over the edge of viability "We'd like to thank you all for your loyal custom over the years with many great memories created at The Woods." Read the full story here Nook Cafe(Image: Nook)Address: 24 North Street, Southville/Bedminster North Street cafe Nook announced towards the end of April that it would be closing the doors to its remaining Bristol site posted a message to its social media pages on April 22 to say: "Nook will be closing on May 4 after 2.5 years of service in the Bedminster community "Unfortunately with the current economy ever rising costs for hospitality businesses and super tight profit margins the cafe is simply not financially viable to continue trading "I'd like to thank our local Bedminster customers and our super amazing team at the Bristol cafe "The current team will be transferring to our Bath cafe and pursuing their own new adventures. "Our Bath cafe is thriving and will be extending its opening hours until 5pm from May. So that's 8.30am-5pm Monday-Sunday. "We will also be having summer residency in Frome at Station Approach from May-September in our horse trailer/smoothie box." North Somerset Council are launching a pilot Residents’ Parking Scheme in part of Weston-super-Mare in the coming months.  The scheme would give priority to permit holders during hours of operation and has been designed to help residents commuters and other vehicles share parking spaces more fairly.  Resident-only parking bays would be in operation from 8am to 7pm from Monday to Saturday including bank holidays (except Christmas Day and Boxing Day) Vehicles without a permit would be able to use the spaces outside of these hours.  Permit holders would be able to add visitor hours to their permits and an additional permit specifically for businesses would allow businesses to apply for five spaces that could be used by any vehicle It is also hoped that the pilot scheme can help manage traffic and congestion making the roads safer and improving air quality.  The pilot is subject to a Traffic Regulation Order which gives people an opportunity to comment on the details of the proposals The Traffic Regulation Order consultation will run from now until 5pm on Friday 21 February.  Executive Member for Placemaking and Economy at North Somerset Council said: “Our Resident Parking Scheme pilot will help vehicles share available spaces on fifteen particularly busy streets in Weston-super-Mare This is important in ensuring local people can park near their homes whilst balancing this need with requirements of local businesses and their staff who need to park close to work “The pilot has been designed with the help of consultation feedback and a number of changes and adaptations have been made a result of past public engagement There is now a final opportunity to comment on proposals through the Traffic Regulation Order process “We want to be sure that the new scheme is having a positive impact and will review whether it is working as planned after 12 months of its implementation.” Leader of the Council and ward councillor for Weston Central added: “Roads can get particularly busy close to the centre of Weston-super-Mare with vehicles parked nose to tail and people often driving around looking for a space “This is something I have been campaigning to tackle for many years and it’s great that we’re able to unveil these proposals for a Resident Parking Scheme and help try to alleviate the issues for residents but it is important that we test this approach before considering rollout in other areas similarly affected by parking pressures.” Notices to advertise the Traffic Regulation Order needed to introduce the scheme will be placed at locations around impacted street and It will be possible to apply for permits from the North Somerset Council website at that time.  You can find a full list of impacted streets, detailed terms and conditions and read more about the scheme at www.n-somerset.gov.uk/WestonRPS and website in this browser for the next time I comment Δdocument.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value" We pride ourselves on our commitment to our local community and thank you all for your continued support The Club is wholly owned by Weston-super-Mare Association Football Club Ltd with Mr Paul T Bliss a person with significant control The Company Registration number is 01657163 a company limited by guarantee (CLG) is a type of corporation used primarily (but not exclusively) for non-profit organisations A company limited by guarantee does not usually have a share capital or shareholders but instead has members who act as guarantors of the company’s liabilities Our game at Weston-super-Mare was brought to an unfortunate early conclusion as a medical emergency in the crowd led to its abandonment on 82 minutes Thankfully reports from Weston indicate that the woman concerned was conscious and responsive in A&E and Football, of course, is of secondary importance at such times, but to report the game it was frustrating, especially for Taylor Maloney that his wonder strike only becomes a top contender for the goal that never was On a bright, warm Spring day in Somerset, Scott Wagstaff was able to recall Ethan Sutcliffe following his suspension and Jack Wood to the starting line-up with, initially, Liam Vincent and Brody Peart dropping to the bench Vincent was unable to take his place and Alexander Dubov dogged performance that restricted the play-off chasing hosts to just a couple of chances of note despite their dominance of possession Weston-super-Mare should have gone in front after nine minutes when Luke Coulson’s free kick gave James Dodd a clear header The Angels had a big shout for a penalty a couple of minutes later when Nazir Bakrin was brought down in the penalty area but these were waved away by the referee The first half wore on with the home side seeing much of the ball but without testing Matt Rowley a single time A Bakrin header brought a comfortable save from Max Harris before Sutcliffe’s long throw into the box was cleared to the edge of the box from where Maloney produced a piledriver of a shot into the roof of the net to give the Angels a lead at the break The second half took the same shape as the opening 45 minutes with Weston pressing hard for a equaliser but Tonbridge repelling their efforts with relative comfort Rowley’s major contribution to the game came on the hour when a shot from outside of the area from Will Dawes was turned away for a corner from which Dawes sent a header goalwards but Rowley was equal to it Harry Ottaway was introduced on 61 minutes and immediately the Angels had more of a focal point up front which led to a shooting opportunity for Sean Shields that was just over A tackle from Maloney brought an unseemly fracas on the near touchline but as that was being sorted out it became apparent that there was a more serious concern behind the dug outs on the other side with the medical teams from both clubs hurrying to attend The delay was to last around 20 minutes before the game was officially abandoned whilst an ambulance was awaited Weston-super-Mare Football Club later made this statement: “We would like to extend our heartfelt thanks to everyone who responded so swiftly and professionally – including both clubs’ medical teams We await the National League’s agreement for a date on which the game will be replayed The Halcyon Wealth Longmead Stadium, Darenth Avenue, Tonbridge, Kent TN10 3JFTonbridge Angels Football Club Limited is a Community Benefit Society, operating under the Co-Operative and Community Benefit Societies Act 2014.Registered number IPO 32445. | Privacy Notice Looking for the old website? Click here This site is pProvided by Football Web PagesYou can dDownload our app for iOS or Android right now Company Number 8718734 | Privacy Policy | Registered in England© Football Web Pages Ltd 2025 North Somerset communities are to see changes and improvements to bus services in the region from Sunday 6 April 2025 in a bid to offer improved travel options and a better coordinated bus network for residents.  The network improvements have used community engagement from bus users aiming to offer a more reliable and flexible service with improved community links securing services for now and into the future Some key improvements include the introduction of a new night bus service an increase in frequency in certain areas and aligned timetables to help children get to school more easily with students now able to access all Weston College campuses in Weston-super-Mare on a direct and faster service X14: Bristol – Portishead – Clevedon – Weston-super-Mare – New night service offering two late journeys on Fridays and Saturdays between Bristol opening up nighttime opportunities for residents and supporting hospitality.  1: Sand Bay – WSM (via Kewstoke) – Seasonal increase in service with a frequency increase from 60 to 30 minutes and the return of a Sunday service.  X5: WSM – Clevedon – Portishead – The X5 bus will now use the M5 between Worle and Clevedon Claverham and Locking Castle will no longer be served by the route but will be picked up by the new X11 bus.  X11: WSM – Yatton – Clevedon – New service The X11 offers service for Locking Castle/Weston Village as well as a connection to Yatton Rail Station There will be a reduction in frequency from 75 to 120 minutes and the bus will serve West Wick instead of Worle on its way in and out of Weston 7: Worle – Weston Town Centre – Locking Parklands – In order to deliver a more consistent service The changes aim to speed up journeys and make the service more efficient so the bus will not serve the seafront and instead will travel via Alfred Street Weston Interchange roadworks are planned to take place in March to enable buses to turn into/out of Alfred Street 7B: Weston Town Centre – Bleadon Hill – A variation of the number 7 bus The service will travel from Weston Town Centre via Hildesheim Bridge to Weston General Hospital increasing frequency for some parts of the 7 route.  7H: Weston Town Centre – Hutton – A variation of the number 7 bus 5: Atlantic Road – WSM – This area will now be serviced by the number 9.  9: Worlebury – Weston Town Centre – Improved service including a route change and an improved timetable with additional journeys in the morning and the evening 20: Burnham – WSM (via Brean) – Seasonal increase in service with a frequency increase from 70 to 35 minutes and the return of a Sunday service.  126: Wells – WSM (via Cheddar and Winscombe) – Improved timetable and a route change Hutton will now be serviced by the 7H and Bleadon Hill will be served by the 7B.  Bournville) – Minor changes to the X1 timetable There will be a new ‘X1s’ bus to take Backwell students from and to Long Ashton with one service in the morning and one back in the afternoon This route will be served by the region's first fleet of electric double-decker buses X4: Bristol – Portishead (via Pill) – Minor changes to timetable This route will be served by the region’s first fleet of electric double-decker buses.  X6: Bristol – Clevedon – Increased frequency to every 30 minutes and a new Sunday service Walton Park will now be served by X7/X7A instead.  X7/X7A: Bristol – Nailsea – Clevedon – The X7 will take on the previous X8 route through east Nailsea and Nailsea and Backwell Station The service will operate as the X7A during evenings and on Sundays X8: Bristol – Backwell – Nailsea – This area will now be served by the X7 service X9: Nailsea – Bristol – Minor changes to timetable.  X10: Clevedon – Southmead Hospital (via Portishead including the first journey of the day moved earlier and last journey moved slightly later A1: Bristol Bus Station – Bristol Airport – Service increased to every 7-8 minutes.  A3 Flyer: WSM – Congresbury – Cleeve – Bristol Airport – Increased frequency to every 30 minutes and the bus will operate for a full 24-hour service.  M2: Long Ashton Park and Ride – Bristol City Centre – Extra late evening journeys Monday to Saturday and a new Sunday service for the first time Useful for North Somerset residents wanting to make use of Long Ashton Park & Ride.  P1 (WESTlocal): Felton – Bristol (via Winford Dundry and Imperial Park) – Minor changes to timetables based on feedback from residents.  There are also minor changes to the WESTlink boundaries in Weston-super-Mare to include Weston College’s Knightstone Campus Loxton Campus and South West Skills Campus.  Executive Member for Highways and Transport at North Somerset Council said: “Using community feedback is a key part in improving our bus services in North Somerset Following the increased feedback from residents on overcrowding on late buses we hope that the introduction of late buses on Friday and Saturday nights from Bristol will be popular and therefore commercially viable services.   We’re trying to stretch the resources available to match competing demands This does mean that not every person will get the service they would like we ask that residents continue to talk to us and we will continue to make improvements throughout the year.”  service changes are put in place every April and September basing amendments on passenger numbers and community needs as part of North Somerset Council’s Bus Service Improvement Plan (BSIP) funded by the Department for Transport.    For full details of the bus service changes, visit First Bus' website For information on the X10 bus, visit The Big Lemon's website Carriageway resurfacing works on Locking Road as part of North Somerset Council’s commitment to improving the district’s roads.  The night works are anticipated to take seven nights The closure will start at the junction of Ashcombe Road continuing to the junction with Priory Road.   parking restrictions will be put in place indicated by yellow cones There will not be on street parking available during construction Traffic marshals will be on site to assist road users and advise on diversion routes Please consider the closure when planning your journeys.  X5 and A3 bus services will be impacted by the works the buses will divert to use the A370 via Hutton Moor Road and Locking Moor Road and Saville Road bus stops will not be served during the closure.  the trip to Portishead at 05:40 will be the only time affected within the closure period.  For the latest updates and changes visit https://one.network/?tmi=GB36492779 or you can follow North Somerset Travel and Roads on social media.  said: "These works are essential to improve the surface and prolong the life of Locking Road a key route in and out of Weston town centre but we are trying to keep this to the minimum necessary and ask people to be patient and understanding whilst the project is completed”.  Local residents most directly affected by the scheme will receive a letter through their door.  Chelmsford City welcome Weston-super-Mare to the EMJ Community Stadium this weekend in the club’s second home game in less than seven days City’s week got off to a perfect start when Kane Crichlow’s late goal earned the Clarets maximum points against St Albans City on Monday night Scott Bartlett’s Weston side will also be searching for their second win of the week when they return to the pitch on Saturday after overcoming Weymouth in their midweek fixture Both Robbie Simpson and his opposite number Bartlett have made no secret about their ambitions to push for a play-off place heading into the business end of the season meaning this weekend’s match in Essex promises to be another action-packed affair Here’s all that Clarets supporters need to know ahead of the game… Watch the highlights of last season’s home clash against Weston Scott Bartlett’s side have avoided any case of second season syndrome after they enjoyed a comfortable first campaign back in the National League South in 2023-24 The Seagulls returned to the sixth tier last season following a four-year absence from Step Two of Non-League football and have hopes of continuing their ascent up the football pyramid at the end of the current campaign The Somerset-based side are only two points shy of the play-off places and are firmly in the run-in for a top seven spot with nine games left to play in the regular season Weston only lost two of their opening 17 league matches this campaign which set Bartlett’s men on the way to competing at the top end of the table Former Dartford man Luke Coulson has been a pivotal figure in the Seagulls’ side ever since the season kicked off The 31-year-old has recorded 13 goals and 14 assists in a Weston shirt so far in the 2024-25 season and has only missed three National League South matches since kick-off in August Bartlett has continued to strengthen his squad and recently completed the signing of Will Dawes for an undisclosed fee Dawes made the move to the Optima Stadium last week and has played twice for his new side since then featuring recently against Bath City and Weymouth Dawes was part of Yeovil Town’s National League South winning squad last season and scored twice against his new club when he faced them in a Chippenham shirt on New Year’s Day 🖊️ | 𝗪𝗶𝗹𝗹 𝘀𝘄𝗮𝗽𝘀 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗕𝗹𝘂𝗲𝗯𝗶𝗿𝗱𝘀 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗦𝗲𝗮𝗴𝘂𝗹𝗹𝘀Weston-super-Mare AFC are delighted to announce that winger Will Dawes has signed from Chippenham Town for an undisclosed fee 🤝🔗 https://t.co/E7nce98Khs pic.twitter.com/5PTNL3Xavc Jake Hyde and Ryan Blackman returned to the matchday squad last time out against St Albans City following their recent absences Cameron James and Freddie Hockey are working their way back to fitness Supporters can click here to buy tickets online ahead of matchday Online tickets will be on sale until 12pm on the day of the game Tickets will also be available on the gate on the day of the fixture Cash or card payments are accepted at the turnstiles Please note the Chelmsford City clubhouse is a CASHLESS venue Radio Clarets will provide live audio commentary of proceedings at the EMJ Community Stadium Clarets fans can find pre-match coverage of Saturday’s match and live updates of the proceedings by following the club’s X (formerly Twitter) page: @OfficialClarets and Instagram page: chelmsfordcityfc Post-match reactions will be found on the club’s website, official social media channels and on ClaretsTV Chelmsford City FC © 2025 It looks like you haven't added any items to your cart yet Outline plans to update the junctions in the Queensway The refreshed layout sets out to help ease congestion on a main route in and out of the town North Somerset Council is currently working to an autumn 2025 start for the works The scheme will allow the junctions to work more efficiently and effectively for all traffic while creating the modern infrastructure needed to enhance current and future bus services the two traffic light-controlled junctions between the Queensway and Walford Avenue would be converted into two connected roundabouts This would allow the junctions to function more fluidly supporting a higher volume of traffic.  Small changes are also planned for two roundabouts on New Bristol Road to improve traffic flow – the Victory (at the entrance to the Sainsbury’s trading estate) with new bus lanes and smart traffic signals which use GPS to track buses’ locations to give them priority New Bristol Road and B3440 schemes have been shaped by in-depth discussions with community representatives The Executive Member decision to approve the scheme can be viewed at: January 2025 executive member decisions | North Somerset Council a legal Traffic Regulation Order (TRO) will be published to formally advertise changes to the highway around 12 weeks before any works are due to begin The TRO period is a legal process and further and final opportunity for residents to submit any formal comments Executive Member for Highways and Transport at North Somerset Council said: “These junction improvements are sorely needed for the Queensway so I am pleased to be able to announce this next step for the area I want to emphasise that this project would be no small undertaking and we would of course do everything we can to minimise disruption These improvements are only possible through the current ring-fenced funding we’ve received from the UK Government under the Bus Service Improvement Plan we can put in place infrastructure changes to benefit our growing population now and in future which wouldn’t be achievable without external government funding.” The junction improvements scheme will be managed in conjunction with infrastructure upgrades elsewhere on the network This includes at junction 21 of the M5 by National Highways the replacement of Winterstoke Road Bridge by the council on behalf of the Ministry of Defence All network upgrades are being managed within tight funding windows diversion routes and temporary bus service changes will be published on the North Somerset Council website later this year With future development and a growing population on the way more people travelling by bus releases pressure on the road network and makes more effective use of squeezed road space One double decker bus can carry up to 75 people and so take that same number of cars off the road Putting in place infrastructure and bus service improvements allows North Somerset to ease pressure on our roads and offers a quick The ad-free version is ready for purchase on iOS mobile app today we couldn't find that page";var n=e.querySelector("h2");return n&&n.remove(),{staticContent:e,title:t}},d=function(e){var t=document.createElement("button");return t.innerText=e,t.classList.add("error-page-button"),t},f=function(e){var t=document.createElement("div");t.id="recirculation-404",t.classList.add("brand-hint-bg");var n="\n \n \n Tick here if you would like us to send you the author’s response When Lorraine Martin sat down to complete her late granddaughter’s novel she faced not just the daunting task of finishing a creative work and tribute — culminating in the publication of Land of the Free a novel penned almost entirely by 19-year-old Allana Raine King before her tragic death had a smile that "illuminated the room" and a passion for life that encompassed singing now retired and living in Weston-super-Mare vividly remembers her granddaughter’s love for family gatherings and wise beyond her years," Lorraine says "She had this incredible ability to connect with the emotions of others.” recording her feelings and daily experiences Her literary influences included George Orwell and Oscar Wilde — names that hint at the depth of thought and insight she wove into her own writing “Allana’s passion for knowledge and her empathetic spiritual nature shone through her stories,” Lorraine reflects She fondly recalls Allana’s moments of inspiration often found in her favourite coffee shops or quiet corners of libraries places that provided the solace she needed to let her imagination roam free But Allana’s promising future was tragically cut short After returning from a family holiday to Greece led to weeks of uncertainty and hospital stays after suffering a psychotic episode triggered by the disease Grief-stricken but determined to honour her granddaughter’s memory Lorraine decided to complete Land of the Free a dystopian novel about a young man named Rocky who seeks to break free from the oppressive expectations of his homeland “Allana wanted to invent a world that would make people think about spirituality and the true meaning of freedom," Lorraine explains "She had already completed about 90 per cent of the novel Her notes gave me a clear guide on the direction she envisioned.” Lorraine had no previous experience in creative writing and described the feeling as being "like a fish lost at sea." Despite the fear and the steep learning curve she made herself a promise: to finish what Allana had started “It was emotionally and creatively challenging,” she admits “There were days I doubted whether I could do justice to her vision I felt connected to her throughout the process — almost as if she was guiding me.” soon to be launched by Tangent Books at Waterstones in The Galleries follows Rocky’s quest to restore humanity against a dystopian backdrop dominated by technological advancements Through the lens of his fight for spiritual and personal freedom Allana — and now Lorraine — ask readers to question the price of progress and the importance of preserving the human spirit completing the novel was about more than just fulfilling a dream; it was about creating a legacy and raising awareness of encephalitis a condition that remains widely misunderstood despite affecting around 6,000 people in the UK each year “There is still so much the public doesn't know about encephalitis," Lorraine says "It can cause anything from mild symptoms to severe brain damage or death Half of the proceeds from Land of the Free will be donated to Encephalitis International a global non-profit dedicated to supporting those affected by the disease Reaction to the novel has been overwhelmingly positive from family “I feel Allana would love the ending,” Lorraine says her voice tinged with both sadness and pride Lorraine has discovered an unexpected passion for writing “I have enjoyed being in the ‘zone’," she says "It’s amazing how the words just flow once you immerse yourself into the storyline there are no immediate plans for another book — but she leaves the door open with a warm smile Lorraine hopes readers of Land of the Free will take away a simple but powerful message one that Allana herself lived by: never give up on your dreams spirit and vision continue to inspire — a testament to the enduring power of dreams said: “I will forever be thankful for what Mum has done in completing the book for Allana I know Allana would be super proud of her Nanny “The book has helped us with our healing journey - a profound legacy that is left for us all to remember.” · The Land of the Free, priced £15, is available from Tangent Books, please visit: www.tangentbooks.co.uk/shop Join Somerset Live’s WhatsApp community for top stories and breaking news sent directly to your phone Somerset Live is now on WhatsApp and we want you to join our community exclusives and much more straight to your phone To join our community you need to already have WhatsApp. All you need to do is click this link and select ‘Join Community’. 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Story SavedYou can find this story in  My Bookmarks.Or by navigating to the user icon in the top right Full-time: Chelmsford City 0-1 Weston-super-Mare Weston-super-Mare continued their push for a play-off spot after earning a narrow victory over Chelmsford City at the EMJ Community Stadium Dylan Kadji’s first-half strike put the visitors ahead at the break with the midfielder’s 30th minute goal proving to be the difference between the sides in a second half with few chances City’s best opportunities came in the first half Seagulls goalkeeper Max Harris was on hand to deny both Ryan Blackman and Sam Oguntayo Manager Robbie Simpson was forced to make a late change to his team’s starting XI Defender Joe Rye was unable to play after experiencing a problem during the warm-up and was replaced by Arthur Penney Kalvin Kalala took Penney’s place on the substitutes’ bench Weston played with the wind behind them in the first half and enjoyed the better of the possession the Clarets came closest to first opening the scoring when Blackman’s goal-bound free kick was tipped away from danger by Harris The Clarets failed to clear their lines from a corner and Kadji capitalised on the hosts’ indecision when he controlled the ball and volleyed it into the top corner Oguntayo nearly equalised just before half-time when he latched onto Kane Crichlow’s defence splitting pass Harris made a smart stop to Oguntayo one-on-one meaning the wing-back’s wait to score his first goal in a Clarets shirt continues made full use of his substitutes in the second half The Clarets made all five available changes and finished the match with three strikers on the pitch City were unable to create the opportunity which Jake Hyde Jordan Greenidge or Saleem Akanbi needed to bring their side back on level terms The loss to Weston means City now face an uphill battle to keep their play-off hopes alive The Clarets must win all their remaining games to have a chance of securing a National League South play-off spot starting next weekend when Simpson’s side face Tonbridge Angels away Young people who work with North Somerset’s Youth Justice and Prevention Service are showcasing their creativity while challenging public perceptions through a powerful new public exhibition in Weston-super-Mare exhibition opened yesterday (Thursday 27 March) at the Sovereign in the High Street It will be open weekdays from 11am to 1pm until Thursday 3 April Over 30 young people aged 11 to 18 have created the exhibition to express their creativity and share their experiences This project has been supported by Reframe North Somerset a co-production group created to challenge perceptions of children and young people in North Somerset The young people also planned and organised a launch event which brought together special guests Visitors to the exhibition can expect to see a striking collection of photography and other thought-provoking artwork that reflects the unique perspectives of local young people It also gives people a chance to meet the artists hear their stories and celebrate their achievements North Somerset Council’s Deputy Leader and executive member responsible for children’s services said: "Through projects like Reframe North Somerset we’re also helping them develop the confidence skills and positive sense of identity that can positively change lives “This exhibition is a powerful reminder of how vital it is to listen to and engage with young people It’s much more than just an art display – it’s a testament to what can happen when young people are empowered to share their stories I’m incredibly proud of the young people involved and encourage everyone to come and see their inspiring work first-hand." This exhibition is part of a broader effort by North Somerset Council’s Youth Justice and Prevention Service to improve outcomes for children and victims of crime The service uses a ‘child first’ approach to encourage positive identity development and help young people make better life choices.  More information about the team’s work, including the programmes available and details of how to refer a young person, are available on the council’s website at www.n-somerset.gov.uk/youthservices North Somerset Council is pleased to announce the arrival of two new businesses to operate from Marine Lake plaza in Weston-super-Mare this season From early April to the start of September 2025 visitors can enjoy a refreshing new experience with Perret Neads A Coffee Hut and Embers Sauna Embers Sauna will be operating a mobile sauna designed to cater to cold-water swimmers and sauna enthusiasts trailer-based unit will be powered by a wood-burning stove offering an affordable and sustainable wellness experience With the growing interest in wellness and the benefits of cold-water swimming Embers Sauna aims to create a welcoming space where visitors can relax The sauna will not only provide a personal sanctuary for wellness but also an opportunity for community connection The operators will work closely with local groups including Marine Lake Mudlarks and sea swimming clubs to ensure the sauna meets the needs of its visitors Flexible opening hours and group bookings will be available to accommodate specific events further fostering a sense of community among guests owners of Embers Sauna said: “Embers Sauna are thrilled to bring our authentic wood-fired sauna to Marine Lake Plaza Our vision is to create a welcoming and relaxing space for individuals to combine the healing benefits of sauna heat therapy and cold-water swimming we believe in the power of community and aim to foster an inclusive and supportive environment for our customers to connect and prioritise their well-being - whether we're catering for seasoned sauna enthusiasts or first-time users The second new addition to Marine Lake plaza is Perret Neads A Coffee Hut a family-run business serving up delicious From hearty sandwiches and toasties to refreshing salads Perrett Neads A Coffee Hut is dedicated to bringing high-quality made-to-order food and beverages to Weston Seafront The Coffee Hut is more than just a place to grab a snack – it’s a hub where friends and eventgoers can gather and enjoy great food and drinks in a relaxed offering seasonal drinks and food that suit the ever-changing British weather the coffee hut will also offer doggie treats and ice creams to keep your four-legged friends happy “We strive to use local suppliers and produce ensuring that every product is made with care and quality,” said Emma and Paul Perret “We aim to create a space where our customers can relax North Somerset Council’s executive member for culture and leisure said: "We’re delighted to welcome two new operators to Marine Lake plaza in Weston-super-Mare this season These will be a welcome enhancement to the area and the sauna is something very different and exciting for the town and I’m sure the coffee hut will be a great addition and I will certainly be trying their coffee and perhaps even a piece of cake.” Whether you’re seeking a delicious cup of coffee Marine Lake plaza promises to be the place to be this season please visit the respective businesses' websites or social media pages:   Future plans for Marine Lake include improving walkways and other enhancements of the area including upgrading and re-opening the public toilets This work is due to be completed by the end of March 2026 People will be able to find out more in a planning application More information about the improvement programme in Weston-super-Mare, which includes Birnbeck Pier, Grove Park, Marine Lake and the Tropicana, can be found on the council’s website at www.n-somerset.gov.uk/improvingweston  North Somerset Council’s seafront team is planning a series of short temporary closures of Marine Lake in Weston-super-Mare over the coming months This will enable regular maintenance to be carried out on the two sluice gates which require frequent checks to ensure effective operation The temporary closures are provisionally planned to take place on the following dates which have all been scheduled outside of school holidays: North Somerset Council's executive member responsible for seafronts said: “We’re determined to make sure that our investment in the Marine Lake in Weston-super-Mare pays off That includes a programme of regular planned maintenance by our seafront rangers including frequent checks of the sluice gates The council continues to work closely with the Weston Marine Lake Mudlarks a group of volunteers who assist with the management of the lake Neil Champs, one of the directors of the Mudlarks, said: "We’re extremely pleased that the council remains committed to not only maintaining but regenerating Marine Lake as a key attraction in the town. If anyone would like to know more, or volunteer, please look at our website www.westonmarinelake.co.uk.” Lake users are encouraged to keep up to date with news and updates by following the Weston Seafront Facebook page (www.facebook.com/westonseafront). A Luke Haines goal on 62 minutes put Town 1-0 up. Luke Spokes made it 2-0 in second half stoppage time. Chippenham skipper Matt McClure saw his second minute shot on the turn deflected for a corner, whilst six minutes later home keeper Will Henry came out on top in a one on one with Sam Pearson and the ball broke to Reuben Reid whose shot was blocked on the line by Luke Haines. Midway through the half James Dodd crossed to Reid who glanced his header wide, and two minutes later his low shot was saved by Henry. A Luke Spokes corner was then headed wide by Freddie Grant. Leone Gravata’s curling effort was saved by Max Harris before his lively run saw him pull the ball back to Caine Bradbury whose shot was blocked by the Weston defence. Before the break Luke Coulson’s free kick was headed over by Louis Britton before the visitor’s Jacob Jagger Cane blazed a good chance over, whilst in stoppage time McClure’s shot went across the face of goal as did an effort from Emlyn Lewis. Early in the second half Keiran Thomas’ headed effort was saved by Henry and McClure’s shot was again just wide. On fifty six minutes a scramble in the area saw the ball cleared to Gravata whose curling shot was just off target. On the hour mark a free kick was played to Reid who set up Coulson but his weak shot was easily gathered by Henry. Chippenham opened the scoring on sixty two minutes when Haines’ free kick from distance bounced past Harris. As Weston pushed forward for an equalizer Reid was again denied by Henry whilst substitute Josh Seberry also failed to beat Henry with a headed effort. The Bluebirds sealed the points three minutes into stoppage time as a long clearance set substitute Harry Parsons charging down the wing and his cross was met by Spokes who swept his shot past Harris. Chippenham: Will Henry, Jake Evans (Alex Bray 77), Luke Haines, Freddie Grant, Tyreke Johnson, Luke Spokes, Tom Mehew (Will King 77), Caine Bradbury, Leone Gravata, Matt McClure (Harry Parsons 82), Harley Vozza subs not used: Aaron Amadi-Holloway, Joe Andrews Weston SM: Max Harris, Keiran Thomas (Jamie Soule 88), Emlyn Lewis, Sam Avery, James Dodd, Dylan Kadji (James Waite 67), Jacob Jagger-Cane, Sam Pearson, Luke Coulson, Reuben Reid, Louis Britton (Josh Seberry 67) subs not used: Oli Jenkins, Bailey Kempster bosses say.","thumbnailUrl":["https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/images/ic/1920x1080/p0l2jgq0.jpg","https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/images/ic/1232x1232/p0l2jgq0.jpg","https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/images/ic/688xn/p0l2jgq0.jpg","https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/images/ic/400xn/p0l2jgq0.jpg"],"uploadDate":"2025-04-05T06:52:53.790Z","duration":"PT1M26S"}What do people think about Grand Pier price rise?This video can not be played CloseThe Grand Pier in Weston-super-Mare has increased its admission charge from £1 to £2 for non-residents Bosses said the rising cost of inflation meant they needed to start charging their 600,000 annual visitors more to "preserve the structure" Shareclose panelShare pageCopy linkAbout sharingRead descriptionEditor's recommendationsWhat do people think about Grand Pier price rise 00:01:26What do people think about Grand Pier price rise 1:26Up Next Watch: BBC reports from pier 33 - the gateway to Alcatraz 00:01:40Watch: BBC reports from pier 33 - the gateway to Alcatraz 1:40Watch: Prince Louis steals the show as royals mark VE Day 00:01:25Watch: Prince Louis steals the show as royals mark VE Day 1:25Watch: How Lady Gaga's record-breaking concert almost ended in disaster Video 00:01:21Watch: How Lady Gaga's record-breaking concert almost ended in disaster 1:21'Trump was the game-changer': Three things to know about the Australian election result 00:01:20'Trump was the game-changer': Three things to know about the Australian election result 1:20Prince Harry 'can't see a world' where his family will visit the UK 00:02:54Prince Harry 'can't see a world' where his family will visit the UK 2:54Watch: Key moments from the local elections.. 00:01:32Watch: Key moments from the local elections.. 1:32Watch: Reform by-election win raises questions for Labour and Tories 00:01:11Watch: Reform by-election win raises questions for Labour and Tories 1:11Russell Brand's court appearance explained.. 00:00:50Russell Brand's court appearance explained.. 0:50Ros Atkins on.. What's in the US-Ukraine resources deal 1:23Kamala Harris hits out at Trump in first major speech since losing election 00:01:18Kamala Harris hits out at Trump in first major speech since losing election 1:18Watch: Moment Columbia student Mohsen Mahdawi is released 00:00:46Watch: Moment Columbia student Mohsen Mahdawi is released it’s the penultimate home game of the season for the Bluebirds as they welcome playoff-chasing Weston-super-Mare to the Thornbury Surfacing Stadium Gary Horgan’s side travelled to Woodside Road to take on second-placed Worthing as the hosts took the lead just fifteen minutes in through a simple pass from Danny Cashman to Temi Babalola The forward skipped past Jac Poffley before slotting the ball past Will Henry at his near post the Wiltshire side got back into it after the half-hour mark when a penalty was awarded for a foul on Tyreke Johnson in the box Matt McClure stepped up and fired his penalty past Lucas Covolan to draw the Bluebirds level against the high-flying Worthing Caine Bradbury then had a great chance to give Chippenham the lead but his free-kick was well saved by Covolan down to his left Worthing were back in front with a brilliant strike from Muhammadu Faal who curled his effort in off both posts from the left side of the box Faal got his second of the game with a header from Nicky Wheeler’s cross Babalola added his second late on to put the cherry on top for the Rebels Our boys in blue were well beaten in West Sussex with their first match coming against nearby neighbours Clevedon Town they played in leagues such as the Western League the club disbanded due to the outbreak of war Weston reformed in 1948 and immediately joined the Western League when they were promoted to the Southern League.After bouncing between the Midland and Southern divisions for a decade the Seagulls finally won promotion to the Southern League Premier Division in 2003 They spent just one season in the division but qualified for the newly-formed Conference South Weston competed in the sixth tier of English football for fifteen years with their highest-ever finish being seventh They were relegated in 2019 after finishing bottom Their first two seasons back in the Southern League were cut short due to Covid meaning their first full campaign in the seventh tier was the 2021/22 season but lost 2–1 in the semi-finals to eventual runners-up Hayes & Yeading Weston were back in the National League South the Seagulls are pushing hard for a playoff place currently sitting seventh and unbeaten in their last seven league games The last win at the Thornbury Surfacing Stadium for the Bluebirds came back in 2018 with a 2–0 victory The first goal was a nice finish on the turn by Andy Sandell into the bottom corner Mike Jones made it two with a cheeky chip over the keeper with players battling not just Weston but also the Beast from the East the fixture was a scrappy midweek affair in which Chippenham struggled to create chances Rex Mannings’ goal on forty minutes—set up by Dale Grubb—secured all three points for the Seagulls thanks to a brace from Will Dawes (who now plays for Weston) and a goal from Harry Parsons Reuben Reid scored a consolation for the hosts The Bluebirds’ backline will have to keep a close eye on Luke Coulson The forward has scored 21 league goals this season This will be no easy game for the Bluebirds up against a team full of confidence and still chasing a playoff place with three games left But we’ve shown this season we can get results against the top sides THREE Somerset beaches have been named and shamed in the second annual Brown Flag Awards – while the county was also named the second worst in England for overall water cleanliness UK travel site Holidayparkguru.co.uk analysed official Environment Agency (EA) summertime water quality data from hundreds of beaches to reveal the 19 grubby ‘winners’ beaches featured in the ‘list of shame’ are Weston-super-Mare Brown Flag beaches are those rated ‘poor’ by the Environment Agency due to bacteria such as e-coli from sewage and other waste Blue Anchor – known as Blue Anchor West by the EA – is classed as a ‘Newcomer’ – or ‘Poocomer’ – because it has won a Brown Flag Award for the first time Dunster Beach is a winner for a second time after picking up a Brown Flag Award in 2024, while Weston again received a ‘poor’ rating at three different testing points on the beach – but gets just one overall Brown Flag Award the number of Brown Flag beaches in England leapt up from 13 in 2024 to 19 in 2025 – a 46% rise READ MORE: Brown Flag Awards for dirty Somerset beaches among worst in the UK And Holidayparkguru.co.uk is once again offering free brown flags – each tastefully decorated with a poo emoji – so the 19 winners can warn summer swimmers about their poor rating Somerset was the only county that took up the generous offer last year – with the flag used by campaigners during a clean water protest just 10% of Somerset’s beaches are rated as ‘excellent’ for water cleanliness putting the county in 18th place out of England’s 19 coastal counties Dorset and Devon are the highest rated counties Lancashire came bottom of the league table with none of its beaches being graded as ‘excellent’ for water cleanliness Other big name ‘winners’ of Brown Flag Awards include beaches in Blackpool said: “We had hoped that we’d be handing out fewer Brown Flags this year – but things have gone down the pan the bad news is that it’s picked up three Brown Flag Awards – that’s the joint highest number of all the English counties “It also ranks very poorly in England’s league table of clean beaches.” He urged people to do their research before hitting the beach this summer Dunster Beach also received a Brown Flag Award for 2025 NOTE: Some large resorts have several beaches and testing points and it may just be one section of the beach that is designated as being ‘poor’ HolidayParkGuru.co.uk’s County-by-County League Table for Clean Beaches in England: Percentage of beaches rated ‘excellent’ by the Environment Agency for sea water cleanliness The Brown Flag Awards used EA data taken from around 7,000 samples at more than 400 bathing waters which the EA says is ‘calculated annually based on samples from the previous four years’ Water quality readings look for intestinal enterococci and escherichia coli (e-coli) levels to see whether there is ‘faecal matter’ in the water Readings are taken from May 15 to September 30 water quality tends to be lower along England’s coastline as higher rainfall causes more sewage and waste water to overflow into the sea and into rivers READ MORE: Environmental news from your Somerset Leveller Follow us on Facebook Subscribe to the Newsletter The New Blackmore Vale Magazine The New Stour & Avon Magazine Salisbury & Avon Gazette the official charity of Weston-super-Mare AFC are excited to launch the ‘Design Our Away Kit’ Competition Our men’s first team will wear the winning design as their official away kit for the 2025/26 season This is a fantastic opportunity for young fans to showcase their creativity and play a part in the club’s history The competition is open to all children aged 13 and under and every participant who submits a design will receive a free 2025/26 season ticket DOWNLOAD THE KIT TEMPLATE AND ENTRY FORM HERE Printed templates are available to pick up at the club Seagulls in the Community will be visiting local schools to promote the competition ensuring as many young supporters as possible get the chance to take part The best designs will be displayed around the club said: “This competition is a fantastic way to engage young fans and give them a chance to leave their mark on the club Put your completed entry in the post box in the Players Lounge bar at the Optima Stadium If you would like us to visit your school for an assembly please email andrew.kynaston@seagullsitc.org but instead has members who act as guarantors of the company’s liabilities.