The BBC confirmed last night that the third series of the Bafta award-winning comedy This Country will be the last. 

The show, created by siblings Charlie and Daisy Cooper, and filmed in the Cotswolds, first landed on our screens back in 2017 and has since won and array of awards. 

It will be the first series not to feature the brilliant Michael "Slugs" Sleggs who sadly passed away in July 2019.

On an Instagram post confirming the news of the third series being the last, Daisy wrote "It's been the most incredible journey of my life and I'm so grateful to you all"

This Country will return to our screens on February 17th on BBC3.

Cheltenham Racecourse opens its doors for its final raceday before the The Festival™ presented by Magners in March on Saturday 25 January, Festival Trials Day. 

With seven cracking races on the card, including the Paddy Power Cotswold Chase, often considered a trial for the Magners Cheltenham Gold Cup and the Galliardhomes.com Cleeve Hurdle which always produces key contenders for The Festival™ presented by Magners. 

Last year, we saw three winners from Festival Trials Day go on to success at the Cheltenham Festival, including the formidable Frodon and Bryony Frost, Paisley Park winning for trainer Emma Lavelle and owner, Andrew Gemmell who has been blind since birth, and Lizzie Kelly aboard Siruh Du Lac. 

Popular Irish contemporary band, Lampa will be back to perform on The Centaur stage after racing to keep the celebrations going. 

Tickets are available to buy online from £12 in advance - www.thejockeyclub.co.uk/cheltenham/events-tickets/festival-trials-day/
​

​BUY BEFORE 31ST JANUARY AT 10:59AM FOR THE BEST PRICE CHELTENHAM FESTIVAL TICKETS

Artistic Curator Gregory Porter opens Cheltenham Jazz Festival with a headline show on Tuesday 5 May. He has selected four concerts as Gregory’s Picks - favourite artists he thinks more people should hear during the six-day Festival in May (5-10 May). 

Undeniably one of the best voices of our generation, Porter has also revealed today that he will release his sixth studio album All Rise on Decca Records/Blue Note in April and will kick off his much-anticipated UK tour of the record at Cheltenham. 
  
Gregory’s Picks 
  
American vocalist and composer Lizz Wright will be Gregory’s special guest in his show and will perform her own show at the Everyman Theatre on Bank Holiday Friday 8 May featuring songs from her new album Grace. 
  
‘Beat scientist’ Makaya McCraven is a drummer, producer and sonic collagist who has made a big impact on Chicago’s cultural scene and who won ‘International Jazz Act of the Year’ at the Jazz FM Awards 2019. He plays the Jazz Arena on Friday 8 May. 
  
Also playing the Jazz Arena on 8 May is trumpeter Keyon Harrold, best known for his performances in Don Cheadle’s Miles Davis biopic Miles Ahead (where he earned his nickname The Mugician). 
  
Gary Bartz & Maisha perform on Saturday 9 May. The sax legend manages to be both an elder statesman of jazz and at the forefront of a new wave, backed by Maisha – the UK’s leading spiritual jazz outfit. 
  
These names join Bebel Gilberto, a double bill of Blind Boys of Alabama and Amadou and Mariam, and David Liebman/Randy Brecker/Marc Copland Quintet, who were announced at the end of last year. 
  
The full Cheltenham Jazz Festival programme will be revealed on Wednesday 12 February. Tickets go on sale to Members on 26 February and General sale is on 4 March. 

www.cheltenhamfestivals.com/jazz

The line-up of DJ's in The Park at the Cheltenham Festival is now complete.

Nick Grimshaw (Day One) and Laura Whitmore (Day Two) were already confirmed, and they have now been joined by Roman Kemp (Day Three) and Marvin Humes (Day Four).

The Park is a brand new addition to The Festival™ presented by Magners, featuring entertainment and live music throughout the day, a range of new bars showing live racing and boasting an electric atmosphere, followed by a 90 minute DJ set at 4:30pm.

www.thejockeyclub.co.uk/cheltenham/events-tickets/the-festival/plan-your-day/the-park

Celebrated chef Bob Parkinson is returning to the kitchen but in a different venue for a one off pop-up night on Friday 24 January.

Bob James Parkinson left his eponymous Michelin recognised restaurant, Made By Bob, in Cirencester, after 10 years at the stove in March 2019. He was followed by his kitchen team of chef’s Sam Edwards and Jak Doggett, who went onto successfully take over and re-establish The Firehouse in Upton, near Burford.

The evening is a six course set dinner with delights such as grilled belly of pork and langoustine with clam’s, Asian style peppers, bean sprouts and yam tawai or grilled fillet of lemon sole with baby gem, prosciutto and truffle.

Menu

Glass of Crémant de Bourgogne 

Cup oyster soup

Oxtail Cugliones with caramelised onion puree, salsify and thyme

Grilled fillet of lemon sole with baby gem, prosciutto and truffle

Grilled belly of pork and langoustine with clam’s

Asian style peppers bean sprouts and yam tawai

Panettone French toast, caramelised apple, sultanas and vanilla ice cream

Roquefort with chicory, walnuts and pickled pear, sourdough crisps

Book now - theuptonfirehouse.com/events

​The entries for the Queen Mother Champion Chase and Ryanair Chase have been announced for The Festival™ presented by Magners at Cheltenham in March. 

Altior heads 31 entries for the £400,000 Grade 1 Betway Queen Mother Chase, the highlight of day two at the four-day event.

Memorable 2019 winner Frodon is among 44 entries for the £350,000 Ryanair Chase on day three. His win was part of an unforgettable hour at Prestbury Park with the Andrew Gemmell Paisley Park winning an emotional Stayers' Hurdle in the following race.

The Festival takes place from 10-13 March 2020. 

BUY YOUR TICKET BEFORE 31ST JANUARY AT 10:59AM FOR THE BEST PRICE. 

www.thejockeyclub.co.uk/cheltenham/events-tickets/the-festival

There are 31 entries for the Cheltenham Gold Cup that takes place on Friday 13th March 2020. 

Last year's winner Al Boum Photo is the current favourite. 

Local entries include the Nigel Twiston-Davies trained Bristol de Mai and The Conditional trained by David Bridgewater.

​The Festival™ presented by Magners takes place at Chelteham Racecourse from 10-13 March 2020

www.thejockeyclub.co.uk/cheltenham/events-tickets/the-festival

BAFTA award-winning comedy This Country returns to the Cotswolds for a one-off sneak preview screening of the new BBC Three series on Thursday 23 January.

Held in Daisy and Charlie Cooper’s home town of Cirencester you can be the first to see an exclusive preview of the first two episodes followed by a Q&A with the brother and sister stars, producer Simon Mayhew-Archer and director Tom George.

Apply by following the link below for your chance to see what Kerry and Kurtan have been up to before everyone else and get an exclusive insight into the making of the show! 

Tickets will be allocated by random draw with 70% of the tickets going to local postcodes* and 30% going to the rest of the UK.

You can register at any time until 10am on Friday 10 January.

You can apply for a maximum of two tickets.

Good luck!

www.bbc.co.uk/showsandtours/shows/this-country-23jan20
​

​* Local postcodes: B50, BA1, BA11, BA13, BA14, BA15, BA2, BA3, BS12, BS15, BS16, BS17, BS18, BS30, BS31, BS32, BS34, BS35, BS36, BS37, BS5, BS7, BS80, CV36, CV37, GL1, GL10, GL11, GL12, GL13, GL14, GL15, GL16, GL17, GL18, GL19, GL2, GL20, GL3, GL4, GL5, GL50, GL51, GL52, GL53, GL54, GL55, GL56, GL6, GL7, GL8, GL9, HR8, HR9, NP16, NP5, NP6, OX1, OX11, OX12, OX13, OX14, OX15, OX18, OX2, OX20, OX25, OX28, OX29, OX3, OX33, OX5, OX6, OX7, OX8, RG15, RG16, RG17, RG18, RG20, SN1, SN10, SN11, SN12, SN13, SN14, SN15, SN16, SN17, SN2, SN25, SN26, SN3, SN38, SN4, SN5, SN6, SN7, SN8, SN9, SN99, WR10, WR11, WR12, WR13, WR14, WR5, WR8

There is no better place to start 2020 than a day at Cheltenham. 

There will be seven races, including two Grade 2 contests and a whole heap of complimentary entertainment in the Family Fun Zone. Under 18s go free!

Why not enhance your day at the races and book hospitality or your own private box from just £155? We can't think of a better way to kick off the new decade!

www.thejockeyclub.co.uk

The King's Arms in Prestbury, on the outskirts of Cheltenham, has reopened its doors today by Raymond Blanc's White Brasserie Company.

​The pub has undergone an extensive renovation since closing at the end of last year and will offer fresh, seasonal French fare and Great British pub classics. 

The pub is steeped in history with parts pf the building dating back to the 14th Century. There has been a huge effort to bring the best of the old pub back to life, reinstating the three fireplaces, restoring original beams and floors and rehanging the front door so it could be open from the High Street for the first time in over two decades.

Take a look for yourself here - kingsarmsprestbury.com

There is an exciting brand new addition to The Festival™ presented by Magners at Cheltenham Racecourse in March 2020.

Featuring entertainment and live music throughout the day, The Park will boast a range of new bars showing live racing and boasting an electric atmosphere and a 90 minute DJ set at 4:30pm.

Radio 1 presenter Nick Grimshaw and Laura Whitmore have been confirmed for Day One and Two.

From the heights of a Ferris wheel, the buzz of the Magners bar and street food to live music from The Wandering Wings throughout the day, there is something for everyone. 

Admission into The Park is available to racegoers with a Club or Tattersalls ticket, simply purchase as an upgrade in advance from just £15 per person (save £10 off the on-the-day price). 

18-28 Members will receive a complimentary wristband for The Park and exclusive access to the Members only area, The Love Ireland Bar.

www.thejockeyclub.co.uk/cheltenham/events-tickets/the-festival/plan-your-day/the-park/

It's been a great couple of weeks which started with Soaring Glory winning, in my opinion, a very strong bumper at Ascot on bad ground. It was pleasing that he put daylight between the second and third who are both good horses. He still has to go forward but it looks like he has the world at his feet at the minute. He will probably return to Ascot next Friday in a listed bumper.

It was a really nice surprise to have a 40/1 winner on Who Shot Jr for Colin Tizzard in the Novice Hurdle at Taunton. He won nicely, although I'm not sure it was the deepest of races. However, he had come on a lot from his first two experiences at Chepstow and Wincanton. 

I had great ride in the Hennessy at Newbury on Mr Malarky. He ran a cracker. I thought 3-out that he had a right chance. He probably didn't quite see out the trip but the cheek pieces definitely made a difference to him and there's definitely a good race for him to win this year. It was nice to see him back to his usual self.

Plumpton on Monday was a great day. I was just touched off on Bean In Trouble in the first which was a little frustrating. Adicci battled really nicely to win over 2 miles. It was a good performance and a nice horse for the future. He definitely will get further in time as he's from the same family as Black Jack Ketchum. It was great to ride out my claim too and to do it on one of dad's made it even more special.

We had a comfortable success at Lingfield on Tuesday with Maypole Class, followed by Cobolobo winning very nicely at Haydock on Wednesday after a good display of jumping.

Huntingdon produced another winner with Pagero. Hopefully we might get him out at the end of the week as he runs without a penalty. 

Quarenta jumped nicely to win what turned out to be, a two-horse race at Fontwell yesterday. It was the feature race and good pot to win. 

The horses are in great form at the minute. That's 6 winners in the last 9 days so hopefully it can continue!

There's no better way to get into the festive spirit than The International meeting at Cheltenham Racecourse on Friday 13th and Saturday 14th December 2019.

Don your Christmas jumpers on both days that will boast 14 thrilling races, including The BetVictor Handicap Steeple Chase and Glenfarclas Cross Country Chase on Friday and The Caspian Caviar Gold Cup and The Unibet International Hurdle on Saturday. 

Racegoers will have the chance of winning on the spot prizes for the most fun and festive jumper and prizes will include a pair tickets to any of the forthcoming race meetings including The Festival™, presented by Magners.  

​Alongside the racing, racegoers will also get the chance to browse the stands in The Shopping Village, useful for those last minute Christmas presents. 

Gates open at 10am on both days, with the first race at 12.10pm. 

www.thejockeyclub.co.uk/cheltenham/events-tickets/the-international

David Gray is coming to The Great Court at Blenheim Palace on June 18th 2020 to celebrate the 20th anniversary of the seminal 'White Ladder' album as part of the Nocturne Live series.

Featuring the hit singles ‘Babylon’, ‘Sail Away’, ‘Please Forgive Me’ and ‘This Year’s Love’, ‘White Ladder’ is one of the top 10 best-selling albums of the 20th century in the UK.

Joining him will be The Lighthouse Family. Having recently released their first new album in nearly two decades, the duo will perform new music as well as their classic hits including ‘High, ‘Lifted’ and ‘Ocean Drive’.

Completing the bill is storied singer-songwriter Nerina Pallot playing highlights from her two-decade long career.

www.nocturnelive.com

You can save up to 21% on your Cheltenham Festival tickets if you purchase before 10:59am on Monday 2nd December.

The most prestigious and unmissable Jump racing event of the year. The Cheltenham Festival is a bucket list event that captures the nation and produces extraordinary moments to last a lifetime. 

The Cheltenham Festival welcomes the finest horses, jockeys, owners, and trainers to battle it out for the highest racing honours, their reputations and over £4.5 million of prize money.

Enjoy an extraordinary day out with friends and family. From shopping, to live music, to a variety of bars and restaurants available, we are sure you'll have a day to remember while watching world class racing and history being made. 

www.thejockeyclub.co.uk/cheltenham/events-tickets

We live in a very weird world, and that's not to mention anything to do with politics. Just this week I found myself defending the presentation of The Swan's pie on twitter to a "chef" who told me that the mash should have been quenilled [sic] with a little jus around the plate and some fresh watercress. I told him he was very wrong, and it's not the 90s anymore. Nobody puts watercress on top of food nowadays do they?
​
It's been a couple of years since I visited The Swan and lots has changed in that time. Most importantly it has been taken over by Sam and Georgie Pearman, the original founders of The Lucky Onion, with pubs like the brilliant Chequers at Churchill which they still own and the delightful Wheatsheaf at Northleach which they don't. 

The pub has changed a bit too. Thinking back it was slightly disjointed but certainly not unpleasant. There was an odd little room if you entered the pub through the door on the road. That has gone has become an extension to the bar area with a few nice tables. The dining room which once had outlandish green walls, green wallpaper, and lots of flowers (the former owner was an interior and floral stylist) now boasts more subtle blues and looks more like a restaurant than someone's living room. There was a roaring fire in the other bar surrounded by the best seats in the house and a lovely room, perfect for celebrations and shoot parties leading out onto the courtyard garden which I imagine would be a nice spot in the summer. The pub has a warmer feel throughout.

It's very rare I order bread, or ever bother to talk about it when I do. However, the Chipping Norton sourdough came with horseradish and dripping butter which is very much worth shouting about. 

I'm always torn between dishes and usually leave up to the waiter or waitress to decide for me. It was between the BBQ native prawns, English peas, Chipping Norton nduja and mussels. Without any hesitation, the prawns won. They were huge, messy (the water bowl and napkin both turned the colour your fingers go after eating a packet of Wotsits) and brilliant. I've never had peas with prawns before but it worked, and the nduja-fueled juice at the bottom of the copper bowl was incredibly good to for dipping the spelt toast in. 

I wasn't torn for my main. It was 3 degrees outside and I wanted a pie. Chicken and leek or ox cheek and smoked bacon, and choosing the latter wasn't a difficult choice. It arrived standing wonderfully unpretentious on a bed of mash and gravy. It was a thing of beauty and yes Mr Angry Twitter Chef stuck in a different decade, there was no need for spooned mash or watercress. If anything, it could have done with an extra small jug of gravy as the mashed soaked it up like a sponge. The side of squash and cavolo nero, curly kale to you and me, was a decent addition.

This was some of the best pub food I have eaten in quite a while. I have a lot of time for places who have a one main menu fits all for lunch and dinner too. 

The Swan will lure locals (there's a special menu in the bar with a £10 dish on every day ) and Londeners alike (there's a station in Ascott where one train a day stops from The Big Smoke). There are also 8 rooms at the pub for anyone wanting to make a couple of days of it which we would obviously highly recommend.

www.countrycreatures.com/the-swan

Food pictured is;

​Ox Cheek and Smoked Bacon Pie
Crispy Cacklebean Egg
Triple ‘Ham’ Burger, Savoy Slaw, Toffee Apple Sauce, Blue Affine, Tabacco Onions, Alabama Fries 

The International Meeting at Cheltenham Racecourse is the perfect to entertain clients, friends, and family on the build up to Christmas.

Friday 13th December and Saturday 14th will see Cheltenham celebrating Christmas Jumper Day and encourage all racegoers to don their festive jumper throughout The International meeting.
  
Racegoers will have the chance of winning on the spot prizes for the most fun and festive jumper and prizes will include a pair tickets to any of the forthcoming race meetings including The Festival™, presented by Magners.  
  
Two great days of racing are scheduled to warm the cockles with seven races each day in what will no doubt provide some thrilling action on the course. 
  
It's always a festive Friday at The International as racegoers are treated to the finale of the Crystal Cup. The race concludes a series of unique races across Europe which encapsulates and celebrates the rich heritage of the sport. The 2018 running saw the Jamie Snowden trained Fact Of the Matter win The Glenfarclas cross Country Handicap. Last year’s winner has been over to Waregem this summer where he finished a gallant 5th in the Belgian Grand National, the 6th leg of the Crystal Cup series. Patrice Quinton has been the leading trainer of the series for the past five years, and looks set to take the title again in 2019.  
  
As racegoers return on Saturday, December 14, they will be greeted by Midlife Choir-Sis who will be singing Christmas carols to maintain the festive mood plus there will be performances The Hip Cats around the racecourse.   The feature race of the fixture is the Unibet International Hurdle and stands as a hugely significant race in its own right. It’s also one of the leading trials for Unibet Champion Hurdle in March.   Another highlight for are the two feature races, the Unibet International Hurdle and the Caspian Caviar December Gold Cup. 
  
Alongside the racing, racegoers will also get the chance to browse the stands in The Shopping Village, useful for those last minute Christmas presents. 

Gates open at 10am on both days, with the first race at 12.10pm. 

www.thejockeyclub.co.uk/cheltenham/events-tickets/the-international

Series 3 of the hugely popular BBC comedy This Country will be aired in February 2020. 

The mockumentary following the lives of cousins Kerry and Kurtan Mucklowe, played by Daisy and Charlie Cooper is filmed in and around the town of Northleach here in the Cotswolds. 

​Charlie said to us this morning "We've just finished the editing on series 3 which we think might be the best yet. We can't wait to for everyone to see it when it launches in February. Expect more of the same nonsense from Kerry and Kurtan as well as a few new characters!"

You can catch up on the first two series and "aftermath" on the BBC iPlayer by clicking HERE.

Arizona four-piece Jimmy Eat World are the first headliner announced for next year's 2000 Trees Festival at Upcote Farm near Cheltenham.

The multi-ward winning festival will take place on the 9th, 10th and 11th July 2020. 

You can buy early bird tickets with a discount by clicking HERE.

The Cotswolds man whose short Christmas film "Love is a Gift" went viral last year has released a new film for 2019.

Phil Beastall made "Love is a Gift" for just £50 and followed a man on the countdown to Christmas up to the big day where it becomes clear that his late mother has left him a message to listen to for every Christmas.

This year, "Made for You" follows a long-distance relationship with video messages shared throughout the year leading up to Christmas day. 

You can watch it for yourself below.

www.anzara.co.uk

Following an inspection this afternoon, racing will go ahead tomorrow at Cheltenham for BetVictor Gold Cup Day. 

The racecourse have released a statement explaining that the third last hurdle and fence will be omitted to ensure that horses race on the best possible surface. 

The cross-country course has also been given the green light for the rearranged race on Sunday.

Gates open at 10am on Saturday with the first race at 12.05pm and 11am on Sunday with the first race at 12.45pm. 

You can read the full statement below.

www.thejockeyclub.co.uk/cheltenham/events-tickets/the-november-meeting/

Cheltenham Racecourse have announced new race times for Saturday and Sunday of The November meeting after the Friday Countryside Day was abandoned due to the weather. 

The Ballymore Novices' Hurdle moves to become the first race on Saturday while the Cross Country becomes the second race on Sunday. 

There will be an inspection at 3pm on Friday to determine whether racing goes ahead.

www.thejockeyclub.co.uk/cheltenham/events-tickets/the-november-meeting/

It feels like the season has got properly underway now and I'm really looking forward to getting back on the course this weekend.

I went over to Ireland last weekend to watch some of the pointers, some of which will be going to the sales next week. I went around with Richard Pugh, an auctioneer with Tattersalls which was a great experience and we learned a lot.

I love The November Meeting at Cheltenham. It's the first multi-day meeting of the season, and one where I have happy memories. I rode my first ever Cheltenham winner aboard Palmers Hill in the Conditional's race on the Sunday last year for Mr McManus and dad. 

I'm not sure who I will be riding on Friday. Maybe L'Air Du Vent of Colin Tizzard's who is entered in the Grade 2 Ballymore Novices' Hurdle 2m5f trial. I won his bumper in Bangor last year and he's a very nice horse. So if he goes there it would be nice to ride him. He's very much a work in progress but he could be something really nice.

Saturday, we have Prefontaine running in the Grade 2 JCB Triumph Trial Juvenile Hurdle. He's a bit of a monkey. He unseated me in his first run and was quite sloppy in his jumping on his second time at Fontwell. He really got his act together at Kempton the next time in blinkers that sharpened him up and won quite nicely having made the running. The horse that came second that day has gone out this week and won, so the form looks good which bodes well. This however is a big step up in grade and we will know where we are with him after the race.

Pop Rockstar is also in on Saturday in the 3m3f Grade 3. He's an interesting horse who is on the way up. He has won his last two races at Carlisle and Chepstow and he's a good strong stayer who jumps very well. He could either go for this race or wait until next weekend at Haydock. He's in great form and dad will make a decision with owner Laura Day later this week. He could have the Welsh National in the back of his mind if he goes well in the next couple of weeks. 

I was at Cheltenham on Tuesday morning with Richie (McLernon) schooling over the cross-country fences. The ground was pretty soft and I imagine the main track will also be relatively soft which is to be expected. It could definitely suit Pop Rockstar.

On Sunday, we have a couple of entries in the conditional race. It's a pretty special race for me and it would be amazing to try and win that again.

I'm really looking to getting going again with hopefully no hold ups and a clear run through the season, touch wood" 

Lionel Richie is the first headline act to be announced for Nocturne Live at Blenheim Palace in June 2020.

​The multi-award winning singer, known for hits Dancing on the Ceiling and Hello, will perform on Saturday 20th June. 

Tickets on sale Friday 15th at 9am.

Visit www.nocturnelive.com for more information.

Cheltenham Racecourse have announced that Jack Whitehall has added a matinee performance to take place before his sold out evening show on Tuesday 26th November. 

The earlier performance will start at 5:00pm in The Centaur at the racecourse and tickets will be on sale on Monday 11th November at 10:00am. 

Visit www.thejockeyclub.co.uk/cheltenham/events-tickets/jack-whitehall for all information.