Things to do

I’ll lay my cards on the table from the off – I’m a sucker for space and science fiction films. Maybe it’s my love of Star Wars as a child, but I’ve always enjoyed entertainment that presents that idea that the human race isn’t alone in the universe. The beautifully shot Ad Astra explores that very notion, while also showing ...

For my money, 2017’s IT remake was the best horror movie to hit the cinema in recent times. While not being perfect or overly terrifying, it captured a Stranger Things vibe and served up a surprisingly great young cast – while also doing a good job of the iconic Pennywise character. One of the biggest surprises (if you’d not read ...

If you’re a fan of B-list action films, you’re probably aware of the trials and tribulations of secret service agent Mike Banning. Having survived the White House attack in Olympus Has Fallen and something similar in London Has Fallen, Gerard Butler’s grizzled Banning is back doing what he does best in Angel Has Fallen – being a one-man army. This ...

A collective of creatives is set to exhibit their work. Sutton Bridge Art Group are preparing for the upcoming art exhibition at St Matthew’s Church, Sutton Bridge. Members of the art group will be entering their paintings in a competition to be judged by the public. Last year’s winner was Lesley Robinson, this year herself and Chairman John Fitzsimmons are ...

There was plenty to raise a glass to as the Holbeach Music and Beer Festival  returned for another year. A host of top acts and a fantastic array of beers and ciders were on hand to be enjoyed at the King’s Field from Friday to Sunday. Tribute acts including Vicky Jackson as Pink and The Jam’d proved hits alongside local ...

By now, you’re all probably aware of The Fast and Furious franchise. It all started way back in 2001 with a film about fast cars, friendship and family. Fast forward 18 years and the ninth film, the Hobbs and Shaw spin-off, sees the series reach the point where absolutely anything goes. With the emphasis on street racing and fast cars ...

Holbeach Parish Council has put together a walking trail with 15 stops around the town in a bid to encourage people to get out and about this summer. The trail has been created by members of the Holbeach Action Group to encourage members of the public to walk around the town centre and discover more about the town. The route ...

Spider-Man’s latest outing always looked like falling in a tricky spot in Marvel’s Cinematic Universe (MCU). Tasked with following the game-changing Avengers: End Game while also ushering in the MCU’s next phase, Far From Home almost had an unenviable task. But Spider-Man, once again expertly portrayed by Tom Holland, rarely disappoints and this time serves as something of a palate ...

I’ll be honest from the off, I’m not a fan of the Toy Story films – which perhaps puts me in the minority when it comes to cinema-goers. Even as a 12-year-old the original just wasn’t for me, while the sequel is one of a small selection of films that I couldn’t be bothered to carry on watching after feeling ...

Of all the film franchises that I enjoyed growing up, I didn’t expect Men In Black to be handed a reboot. The 1997 original was great fun at the time and, while the two sequels never quite reached those heights, it’s a film most look back fondly on. Men In Black International does its best to re-tread the famous footsteps ...

To say the X-Men timeline had become a little confusing is putting things mildly. That being said, Fox had assembled a mighty cast of characters for their ‘First Class’ and I’ve mostly enjoyed what has been served up over the past decade (Apocalypse aside). With Dark Phoenix acting as their last stand (pun intended) before Marvel Studios get their hands ...

When you think of the best monster movies over the years, they usually take a ‘less is more’ approach when it comes to showing off the main event. Consider how little you actually see the shark in Jaws or the T-Rex in Jurassic Park and you realise that their main purpose is to be a menacing undercurrent more than the ...

After the remarkable success of last year’s Bohemian Rhapsody, it was inevitable that plenty more films focusing on the lives of much-loved musicians would follow. Step forward Rocketman, another biopic about a British rock legend from director Dexter Fletcher – only this time following the trials and tribulations of Elton John. It’s fair to say that Bohemian Rhapsody played it ...

Spalding’s White Horse Writers group is hosting its second open mic night on Thursday, May 30. Serge’s Tapas on Francis Street is again hosting the eclectic mixture of poetry, prose and music, all by local performers. It follows on from the success of the first such event at the end of March. The event starts at 7.30pm and all new ...

John Wick is a name that breathes fear into those living in the deliciously sadistic assassin world created by this breathless series of action films. But for me, the name John Wick means I know exactly what I’m going to get at the cinema – non-stop action, visceral fight scenes and brilliantly over-the-top interplay from a great cast. I’ll not ...

Spalding Festival is set to be even bigger and better as it returns for 2019 this weekend. This year’s Spalding Round Table event is both an indoor and outdoor spectacle promising even more fun for all the family than before at the Castle Sports Complex. Not only is there set to be the usual fantastic array of beer and cider ...

As somebody with little or no interest in Pokémon (I may have downloaded Pokémon Go the other year, but keep that to yourself) I wasn’t sure what to expect from Detective Pikachu. Even as somebody who has something of a video game addiction, Pokémon has just never really appealed to me. I am, however, aware that it’s a very big ...

Talented young dancers representing a South Holland dance studio cleared up in a big dance competition. Polka Dot Dance Academy, which holds classes in Spalding, Long Sutton and Holbeach, took 18 dancers to London to compete in Starz UK London at The Albany Theatre. Every student went home with an award, including first prizes. The street dance crew FUSION placed ...

It’s fair to say that the film and television industry has become a little bit obsessed with serial killers over the past few decades. Usually, the murderous monster is the target for our heroes (see Luther, Criminal Minds, etc) but Extremely Wicked, Shockingly Evil and Vile takes a surprisingly different path. Based on the heinous crimes of notorious American serial ...

Never before has one film acted as a finale for the 21 others that preceded it, but it’s unlikely that there’s ever been a bigger production than Avengers: Endgame. If, like me, you’ve enjoyed the incredible work done by Marvel Studios over the past decade – bringing the likes of Iron Man, Captain America and Thor to life in the ...