Extra, extra! We've got gossip on celebs spotted in Berkshire (cooey David Tennant), Gordon Ramsay's new restaurant in Reading and all the awards news.

CELEB STALKING IN BERKS

Lights, Camera… ACTION! Actors David Tennant and Stanley Tucci have been spotted filming in in Wokingham for their upcoming Netflix series Inside Man. Broad St ground to a halt and the TV show’s team transformed local florist The Flower Corner into a café. Written by Steven Moffat and his wife Sue Vertue, Inside Man has a stellar class. Joining Tucci and Tennant is Lydia West (It’s A Sin) and Dolly Wells (Dracula).

A joint production from the BBC and Netflix, Inside Man is described as a four-part mini-series that follows a prisoner on death row in the US, a Vicar in a quiet English town, and a maths teacher trapped in a cellar, as they cross paths in the most unexpected way. No release date as yet, filming is taking place now, so expect to see it on screens in 2022. We’re ready for our close up if they need extras.

AND THE WINNERS ARE…

Is it a awards season? Hell yes it is. So slip into that evening gown and grab yourself a glass of bubbles, because Berkshire’s winners have been crowned… AGAIN.

The Hind’s Head in Bray (Muddy Award winning Destination Pub in 2021 and 2019) has been named one of the best gastropubs in the UK (like we didn’t know that already). It holds the 8th spot in Big Seven Travel’s Top 50 Gastropubs (although we’d like to point out Bray is in Berks not Bucks), with The Beehive in White Waltham in 23rd The Hind’s Head, holding one Michelin Star, is owned by Heston Blumenthal, but the genius in the kitchen is Chef Pete Gray.

While we’re talking gongs… At the other end of the county 137 Distillery in Newbury has scooped three stars for its multi-award-winning Lumber’s Bartholomew Berkshire Dry Gin by Great Taste 2021. It’s the highest grade awarded at the competition which os judged blind by a panel of 355 judges.

This super-cool distillery in The Newbury Pub in Newbury has also just launched its first of a series of vodkas. 137 Ivy Vodka has a smooth, creamy, almost vanilla-like flavour, but the grassy-green herbaceous notes give it a savoury taste too. The bottle is gorgeous, too, made from 100% recycled glass.

New interiors store – Plush The Lexicon Bracknell

FINAL CALL FOR LAPLAND

Fingers on the refresh button, this is your final call for your Lapland UK 2021. The last block of tickets will be released for sale at midday on Monday 27 September. The four-hour immersive event – held in Whitmoor Forest Ascot – is always a sell out. Meander through snowy enchanted forests to Santa’s chalet, where he and his elves need a little assistance in preparing for the 24 Dec. Tickets from £69pp for the Lapland UK experience (13 Nov 2021- 3 Jan 2022) and the Elflet’s Christmas celebration (26 Dec 2021-3 Jan 2022).

NEW OPENINGS

Bye Bye Ronald McDonald, there’s a new burger king in town. Gordon Ramsay’s Street Burger restaurant opens today – and the first 1,000 customers could get a free lunch. This is Ramsay’s first eatery in Berkshire and takes over from Giraffe at The Oracle Riverside. Although the menu is a drool-fest for meat eaters, there are a number of vegan dishes on the menu. Talking about the Reading restaurant, Ramsay said: “the fit-out is amazing, the burgers are beautiful, the blend is incredible, wait til you see the relishes”. Now starving.

While we’re talking about newness, a new canal-side café/restaurant from the Loungers Group will open in Maidenhead. Bardo Lounge will become part of the Waterside Quarter Development from Shanly Homes that overlooks the canal and includes 250 new homes. You’ll find Lounges in Caversham, Woodley, Wokingham and Newbury, the family-friendly restaurants each have a unique interior and an crowd-pleasing menu offering everything from brunch to tapas.