Connect with us

News

New foodhall to open on site of former Winchester nightclub

Lennie Teague

Published

on

A new foodhall is set to open later this year in place of Vodka, Winchester’s former nightclub.

The venue, which shut down in May 2023, is set to be converted to foodhall called Helch Market.

The market is planned to open until 3am and will have a number of food vendors which will rotate over time as well as events space in the basement.

Helch Market Winchester will be the second of its kind after David Jamal Benamor, of Benamor LTD, opened a similar business in Bournemouth in 2022.

Mr Benamor aims to open the new venue in the autumn.

Mr Benamor said: “There’s quite a low diversity in independent businesses, so there’s a lot of chains and very few independent, especially with new concepts, which are a lot harder.

“It’s quite stale, the diversity on the high street, like everywhere in the UK.

“This offers smaller businesses a chance to try a concept or to start their own chain of stores, whatever they’d like to do, so I’d say just a diversity within small businesses.”

Image courtesy of Benamor LTD

Mr Benamor’s application for a licence which allows the sale of alcohol, the serving of hot food and drinks between 11pm and 5am and live and recorded music and entertainment was approved on 25 March.

The plans to take over the Vodka site have been controversial and the initial licence application was met with criticism, with a number of written objections being made to Winchester City Council.

Residents have also been concerned with the potential rise in crime levels after there were 18 crimes reported on or near the Vodka property in the first half of 2022, a year before its closure.

‘As long as there’s a facility for the youngsters, which is much needed.’

One man said: “In principle, I am happy with the idea.

Despite the complaints, the members of the Winchester public WINOL spoke to were mostly supportive of the venue.

“I wouldn’t like it if it was open until 3am, but in normal hours it’s fine.

“No problem at all, I think we need to encourage young people here.”

Another resident said: “As long as there’s a facility for the youngsters, which is much needed in town because we haven’t got a lot like clubs as such.

“Not everybody wants them, but I just think the youngsters need something rather than have to go elsewhere. It’s good.”

Football

Ivan Juric leaves Southampton after earliest ever relegation

Lennie Teague

Published

on

Ivan Juric has left his role as Southampton first team manager following the club’s relegation on Sunday.

The Croatian joined the Saints on an 18-month deal in December following Russell Martin’s dismissal but lasted just 107 days in charge.

Juric oversaw just two victories in his 16 matches in charge with Sunday’s 3-1 defeat to Tottenham confirming Southampton’s relegation to the Championship.

With seven matches still to play, Saints’ relegation is the earliest in Premier League history, breaking the joint-record set by Derby County and Huddersfield Town in 2007-08 and 2018-19 respectively, who both went down after 32 games.

The club confirmed the process of searching for a new manager is now under way and said: “With relegation to the Championship now confirmed, we believe it is important to give fans, players and staff some clarity on the future as we head into a very important summer.”

First team coach Simon Rusk is set to take charge of the team for the remainder of the season with player Adam Lallana to act as his assistant.

Southampton currently sit on 10 points at the bottom of the league and require a further two points to avoid breaking the record-low set by Derby County, who finished the 2007-08 season with 11 points.

Continue Reading

News

Winchester BID Rangers recover £100,000 in stolen goods

Lennie Teague

Published

on

Photo courtesy of Winchester BID

A security team in Winchester has hit a major milestone by recovered more than £100,000 worth of stolen goods in the city centre.

The Winchester Business Crime Reduction Partnership (WBCRP) and Winchester Business Improvement District (BID) Rangers were formed in 2018 with the aim of reducing business crime, antisocial behaviour and low level crime.

The group has now retrieved over £100,000 worth of goods and returned them to businesses in Winchester.

The Rangers work closely with local businesses, Hampshire Constabulary, Winchester City Council and BID to help their efforts of combatting theft.

They are highly trained security professionals that are accredited under the Community Safety Accreditation Scheme (CSAS) and certified by the Security Industry Authority (SIA).

BID lists the Rangers’ key functions as being crime prevention and recovery, supporting the local Shopwatch and Pubwatch schemes, real-time assistance and customer engagement and public safety.

Hannah Hitchon, Shopwatch chair, said: “It is with the greatest pride that the BID Rangers have surpassed the stolen property recovery figure of £100,000.

“This figure has been recovered over a challenging time, including the pandemic, which naturally impacted the vital role that they played in protecting our local area.

“As such they should be commended for their hard work and resilience over the last six years.

“My heartfelt thanks go out to the Rangers for the continuing hard work and dedication that they offer both the public and local businesses and here’s to many more years of the same!”

The group have been recognised for their efforts by the Office of the Police and Crime Commissioner (OPCC).

BID Ranger Brett Jones received an OPCC award in 2023 for his commitment to public safety.

Winchester BID Business Crime Reduction Manager Jane Bastock has been honoured with a 2025 OPCC award nomination for her leadership in business crime reduction over the past decade.

On the efforts by the Rangers, Ms Bastock said: “I am very proud of this achievement. This demonstrates not only the success of the BID Rangers scheme but that of the Radio Link and Shopwatch schemes, which businesses in Winchester utilise to alert suspicious or offending behaviour in their store or in the city.

“I would also like to thank the local police and Winchester City Council CCTV Control Room for their continued support with these schemes.”

Following the milestone, the WBCRP and Winchester BID remain committed to strengthening security initiatives and supporting businesses in tackling crime.

Cheif Inspector Korine Bishop, Winchester district commander, said: “This milestone demonstrates the importance of the BID Rangers to the partnership effort needed to keep the city centre a safer environment for all.

“Our officers, including those from our dedicated city centre Neighbourhood Policing Team, will continue to work with the BID Rangers and all our partners to reduce and prevent crime.”

Continue Reading

News

University Drinking Culture: New Data Outlines Safety Concerns

Avatar

Published

on

Despite recent reports suggesting that university students may be drinking less overall, a new survey by WINOL reveals an unsettling reality for students navigating campus drinking culture.

With alcohol consumption remaining prevalent, the findings paint a complex picture: while alcohol continues to play a central role in student life, there are significant gaps in knowledge and support regarding its dangers.

Pressure to Drink and Social Expectations

A striking 63% of students reported feeling pressure to drink to fit in at university.

This statistic highlights the critical role alcohol plays in socializing, particularly during key events like Freshers’ Week, themed parties, and club nights.

For many students, these social settings come with an unspoken expectation to drink, and for those who choose not to, the pressure to conform can lead to feelings of isolation or judgment.

This sense of social pressure is compounded by the fact that 90% of students feel that binge drinking is normalized on campus.

Drinking games, pre-drinks, and excessive alcohol consumption are often seen as a standard part of the university experience.

This normalization of binge drinking may contribute to students’ reluctance to speak out or resist the social pressures associated with alcohol consumption.

The Reality of Excessive Drinking

Beyond the social expectations, the survey data reveals that drinking to excess is a reality for many students:

  • 58% of students have taken part in a drinking competition or challenge.
  • 50% of students have blacked out from drinking at university.
  • 79% have had to assist someone who was dangerously drunk.

These figures suggest that excessive drinking is not only common but often dangerous, with significant consequences.

Blacking out is a serious concern, as it indicates a level of intoxication that could lead to health risks or accidents.

The fact that so many students have had to intervene to help others who were dangerously drunk further underscores the seriousness of the issue, making it clear that binge drinking extends beyond individual behaviour to affect the wider student community.

Lack of Awareness Around Alcohol Dangers

Despite the evident prevalence of heavy drinking, the survey reveals a concerning lack of awareness among students about the risks of alcohol:

  • 73% of students don’t know how to recognize the signs of alcohol poisoning.
  • 70% don’t know where to seek help for alcohol-related issues at university.

These gaps in knowledge are troubling, as alcohol poisoning can be fatal if not treated promptly.

Students may not even realize when they or their peers are at risk, and with many unsure where to turn for help, the consequences could be severe.

In addition, 85% of students feel the university could do more to educate students about responsible drinking, suggesting that current efforts may not be as effective as intended.

Are Universities Doing Enough?

Many universities, including Winchester, have resources in place to address these concerns, such as:

  • Student support services
  • Sip Safe and Smart initiatives to combat drink spiking
  • Sober Student Union craft events

While these programs are valuable, the survey data raises questions about their reach and effectiveness.

If students are unaware of where to seek help and continue to feel pressured into excessive drinking, these resources may not be addressing the underlying cultural issues.

The question arises: Are universities providing sufficient support, or do they need to take a more proactive approach to change the drinking culture?

What Does This Data Actually Tell Us?

The survey findings highlight a significant gap between the high levels of alcohol consumption and students’ understanding of the associated dangers.

While alcohol remains central to social life at university, students appear to lack the knowledge and resources to drink responsibly or recognize the signs of alcohol-related health risks.

Despite the existence of educational initiatives, many students feel that the university could be doing more to equip them with the tools needed to make informed decisions about alcohol.

Continue Reading

Trending

Copyright © 2017 Zox News Theme. Theme by MVP Themes, powered by WordPress.